fcRAtY 

tv6*snnr  t* 

CAUftHtNIA      / 


EVIDENCES  OF  PROGRESS 


AMONG 


COLORED  PEOPLE. 


BY 

G.   K.    RICHINGS, 

Originator  of  Illustrated  Lectures  on  Race  Progress, 


ELEVENTH  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

GECX  S    FERGUSON  CO., 
1904. 


LOAN  STACK 


Copyrighted,  1902,  by  G.  F.  RiCHlNGS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IT  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  introduce  an  individual  or 
a  friend  to  another  individual  or  a  friend ;  but  to  in 
troduce  a  book  is  more  important  than  an  individual 
introduction.  Books  are  good  and  they  are  bad,  just 
in  proportion  as  their  contents  tend  to  producing 
right  or  wrong  action  of  life;  or  convey  truth  or 
error.  When  the  mission  of  a  book  is  to  present 
facts  versus  theory  about  an  individual  or  a  race,  it 
ought  to  be  encouraged  by  all  who  believe  in  fair 
play. 

The  author  of  this  book  has  for  a  number  of  years 
been  collecting  facts  in  relation  to  the  Progress  of  the 
Race  since  Emancipation.  He  has  traveled  East  and 
West,  North  and  South,  with  his  eyes  and  ears  open. 
For  several  years  he  has  thrown  these  facts  on  the 
canvas  to  be  seen  and  read  in  the  New  and  Old 
World.  He  now  proposes  to  present  them  to  a 
larger  and  greater  audience.  It  was  impossible  for 
all  to  attend  his  entertainments,  but  now  he  proposes 
to  send  the  entertainments  to  the  audience. 

The  pages  of  this  book  will  take  the  place  of  the 
canvas ;  the  dim  light  of  the  lantern  will  be  super 
seded  by  the  clear  light  of  reason,  and  the  race. that 
has  been  so  long  misrepresented  will  appear  in  a  new 

(iii) 

358 


IV 


Introduction. 


light  as  the  representative  characters  of  this  book 
pass  a  thorough  examination  as  to  their  capability 
of  self-culture,  self-improvement,  self-support  and 
self-defence. 

The  Home,  the  Store,  the  School  and  Church,  and 


the  Factory  are  the  infallible  signs  of  civilization ;  the 
people  who  support  these  exhibit  the  true  signs  of 
enlightenment. 

In  this  volume  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of 
learning  how  the  leading  schools  were  started  by  the 


Introduction.  v 

friends  of  the  race.  You  will  learn  how  men  and 
women  left  their  homes  of  ease  and  comfort  and  went 
among  the  new-born  Freedmen,  and  assisted  in  re 
constructing  the  individual  and  home  life.  You  will 
also  learn  the  names  of  noble  men  and  women  who 
have  founded,  supported  and  endowed  institutions  for 
the  training  of  the  head,  hand  and  heart  of  the  coming 
generation. 

An  account  will  be  given  of  the  schools  founded, 
manned  and  supported  by  the  race  itself;  and,  for  the 
first  time,  the  world  will  be  enlightened  as  to  what 
the  race  is  doing  for  its  own  education  ;  illustrations 
of  buildings,  presidents,  professors  and  students  will 
gladden  your  eyes. 

Short  sketches  of  men  and  women  who  have  shown 
skill  in  the  professions,  and  achieved  success  in  busi 
ness,  will  be  presented,  calculated  to  give  inspiration 
to  the  youth  of  the  future. 

Having  witnessed  the  instructive  exhibitions  of  the 
author  of  this  volume,  and  heard  with  pleasure  his 
instructive  Lectures,  I  take  great  pleasure  in  intro 
ducing  to  the  present  arid  future  generations  "  EVI 
DENCES  OF  PROGRESS  AMONG  COLORED  PEOPLE." 
For  I  know  no  man  better  qualified  by  his  knowledge 
of  the  history  of  the  race  and  by  his  personal  exami 
nation  and  careful  study  of  our  problem,  also  his 
intimate  acquaintance  with  individuals  about  whom  he 
writes,  than  Mr.  G.  F.  Richings. 

I  am  yours  for  God  and  the  Race, 

BENJAMIN  W.  ARNETT. 
TAWAWA  CHIMNEY  CORNER, 

WILBERFORCE,  OHIO,  March  30,  1896. 


G.  F.  ETCHINGS,  Author. 


PREFACE. 


THERE  seems  to  be  a  general  impression  and  a 
growing  sentiment  in  this  country  that  the  colored 
people,  as  a  class,  have  not,  and  are  not,  making  any 
progress ;  or,  that  they  have  not  improved  the  educa 
tional  opportunities  offered  them  by  the  philanthropic 
white  people  who  have  proven  themselves  friendly  to 
the  cause  of  Negro  education.  This  feeling  has  de 
veloped  from  two  causes  :  First,  we  have  a  large  and 
wealthy  class  of  white  people  who  go  South  every 
year  during  the  cold  season  for  either  their  health  or 
pleasure,  and  while  in  the  South,  they  see  a  great 
many  colored  people  on  the  streets  of  Southern  cities 
who  appear  to  have  no  employment.  In  many  cases 
this  may  be  true;  sometimes  because  they  do  not 
want  to  work  ;  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  true 
cause  of  so  much  idleness  among  the  colored  people 
in  the  South  lies  in  the  fact  that  they  are  not  able  to 
get  work,  no  matter  how  much  they  may  seek  it. 
Let  this  be  as  it  may,  the  presence  of  these  people  on 
the  streets,  dressed  as  the  unemployed  usually  dress 
in  the  South,  gives  these  Northern  white  people  an 
unfavorable  impression  of  the  colored  brother  and  an 
erroneous  idea  of  the  real  condition  of  these  people. 
Hence  they  return  to  their  Northern  homes  with  a 


riii  Preface. 

very  pessimistic  story  to  tell  regarding  the  Southern 
colored  people. 

The  second  reason  for  this  erroneous  impression 
regarding  the  condition  of  the  colored  people  of  the 
South,  lies  in  the  fact  that  white  people  never  look  in 
the  right  direction  for  evidences  of  race  progress,  but 
are  continually  drawing  their  comparisons  from  the 
lowest  types  and  judging  the  whole  race  by  a  few 
who  occupy  only  the  lowest  levels  in  common  society. 
For  an  illustration  :  A  country  girl  from  the  South, 
who  has  never  spent  six  days  of  her  life  in  a  school 
room,  is  employed  in  a  Northern  family  t<?  do  menial 
work.  The  mistress  of  the  household  finds  her 
ignorant  and  sometimes  absolutely  stupid,  and  instead 
of  classing  this  girl  where  she  belongs,  as  all  races  are 
divided  into  classes,  she  immediately  arrives  at  the 
conclusion  that  because  the  girl  hails  from  the  South, 
she  must  be  a  fair  specimen  and  a  true  representative 
of  all  the  colored  people  in  that  section.  And  she 
further  concludes  that  all  this  talk  about  the  wonder 
ful  progress  made  by  the  Negro  since  the  war  is  mere 
talk,  having  no  foundation  in  fact,  and  that  this 
talk  is  kept  up  in  order  that  the  people  may  be  mis 
led  into  subscribing  their  money  for  educational 
work. 

I  have  talked  with  a  great  many  white  people  on 
this  subject,  and  they  have,  in  almost  every  instance, 
expressed  about  the  same  sentiment  I  have  given 
above.  One  lady,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  said  to  me : 
"  But  colored  people  are  so  ignorant."  I  asked  her 
with  whom  she  was  acquainted  among  colored  people. 


Preface.  ix 

"  Why,"  said  she,  "  we  have  employed  colored  help 
for  years,  and  one  colored  woman  has  washed  for  our 
family  ever  since  I  was  a  child."  It  will  be  seen  that 
her  conclusions  were  drawn  from  a  very  low  level, 
and  that  her  contact  with  colored  people  had  always 
been  limited  to  the  poorer,  working  classes.  Indeed, 
so  general  is  the  impression  among  white  people  that 
no  real  progress  has  been  made  by  the  ex-slaves,  that 
at  least  seven  out  of  every  ten  seem  to  think  of  the 
colored  people  as  a  worthless,  inflexible  element,  in 
capable  of  mental,  moral  and  other  developments 
essential  to  a  high  state  of  civilization. 

I  think  that  I  can  safely  say  that  the  only  white 
people  who  are  willing  to  admit  that  there  is  a  better 
class  of  colored  people,  are  those  who  have  either 
taught  in  their  institutions,  or  have  intimate  friends 
engaged  in  that  kind  of  work.  Friends  who  are 
anxious  to  help  the  race,  find  that  these  wrong  im 
pressions  have  been  so  thoroughly  established,  that 
the  educational  work  is  very  much  hampered  and 
interfered  with  from  year  to  year ;  and  the  success  of 
Southern  schools,  dependent  on  Northern  philan 
thropy,  has  been  very  much  hindered  on  account  of 
the  gloomy  aspect  given  by  Northern  people  visiting 
Southern  cities.  The  contributions  from  the  North 
to  these  schools,  have  been  very  meagre  and,  of 
course,  the  higher  possibilities  of  negro  education 
have  not  been  reached.  Enemies  of  the  race,  and 
those  laboring  under  false  impressions,  are  led  to  be 
lieve  that  the  money  invested  in  Southern  Educa 
tional  Institutions  has  been  simply  thrown  away. 


x  Preface. 

We  cannot  hope  for  a  change  for  the  better  as  long 
as  colored  people  are  only  known  as  coachmen, 
waiters,  cooks,  and  washerwomen. 

I  have  called  your  attention  to  a  very  gloomy  as 
pect  of  the  Southern  situation.  But  while  the  aspect 
is  a  gloomy  one,  it  represents  the  true  attitude  of  the 
American  people,  with  a  few  exceptions.  I  have  put 
forth  this  effort  to  set  my  friends  right  on  this  im 
portant  question,  and  I  sincerely  believe  that  the 
time  is  not  for  distant  when  the  white  people  will  see 
to  it  that  these  Southern  Institutions  are  guaranteed 
more  liberal  support  and  better  encouragement.  I 
see  the  colored  people  in  a  much  brighter  light  and 
in  a  more  hopeful  condition  than  the  men  of  my  race 
who  visit  the  South  for  the  purpose  of  making  super 
ficial  observations.  And  because  I  have  found  so 
many  interesting  "  Evidences  of  Progress  Among  Col 
ored  People,"  I  offer  this  as  my  apology  for  writing 
this  book.  The  facts  contained  in  this  work  have 
been  gathered  during  sixteen  years  of  actual  labor 
and  contact  with  the  colored  people  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States.  I  have  had  to  go  deeper  into  the 
question,  to  secure  my  information,  than  merely  to 
visjt  street-corners  and  hold  casual  conversation  with 
the  unfortunate  and  the  unemployed,  North  or 
South. 

When  those  who  read  this  book  take  into  con 
sideration  the  fact  that  many  of  the  characters  herein 
mentioned  started  some  thirty  years  ago  without  a 
dollar,  without  a  home,  and  without  education, 
except  here  and  there  a  few  who  had,  in  some  mys- 


Preface.  xi 

terious  way,  learned  to  read  and  write,  they  will,  I 
am  sure,  be  willing  to  admit  that  some  progress  has 
been  made  by  the  people  in  whose  interest  this  book 
is  published.  I  wish  to  make  prominent  four  phases 
of  the  race  question,  namely:  (i)  The  schools  which 
have  been  built  for  colored  people  and  managed  by 
whites;  (2)  The  schools  managed  by  colored  people; 

(3)  The  church  work   carried   on  among  them,  and 

(4)  The   business    and    professional     development  as 
the  result  of  education. 

I  am  well  aware  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  philan 
thropists  who  gave  their  money  so  freely  at  the  close 
of  the  Civil  War  for  the  education  of  the  freedmen, 
and  the  Christian  and  unselfish  missionaries  who 
went  South  to  teach  the  ex-slaves,  I  would  not  have 
been  able  to  present  so  many  interesting  and,  in  many 
cases,  startling  "  Evidences  of  Progress  Among  Col 
ored  People."  I  want  to  mention  most  of  the  schools 
started  by  white  friends.  But  I  shall  deal  more  at 
length  and  in  greater  detail  with  the  school  work 
carried  on  by  the  colored  people  themselves.  There 
are  many  who  are  asking  if  the  colored  people  are 
doing  anything  for  themselves  in  an  educational  way. 
This  question  will  be  clearly  answered  in  this  book. 
I  do  not  claim  that  colored  people  support  entirely 
all  of  the  schools  managed  by  them,  nor  have  the 
white  people  a  right  to  expect  that  they  should  be 
able  to  do  so,  in  so  short  a  time.  For  my  part,  I 
shall  feel  that  they  will  have  accomplished  a  great 
deal  if,  in  the  next  hundred  years,  they  will  have 
reached  that  point  where  they  can  support  their  own 


xii  Preface. 

schools  and  meet  all  the  financial  obligations  involved. 
I  have  no  doubt  but  that  many  who  shall  read  this 
book  will  be,  as  I  was,  greatly  surprised,  yes, 
astonished;  for  some  of  the  sketches  read  like 
romances  more  than  the  ordinary  things  of  life. 

I  shall  mention  the  names  of  one  or  more  of  the 
many  men  and  women  I  have  found  engaged  in  all 
the  pursuits  and  walks  of  life.  I  present  in  many 
cases  the  portraits  of  characters  whose  sketches  ap 
pear,  in  order  that  the  white  people  may  make  a  study 
of  their  faces.  Some,  in  fact  many,  of  them  are  very 
dark.  I  mention  this  because  I  have  been  led  to  be 
lieve  that  it  is  the  general  opinion  among  Americans 
that  quite  a  percentage  of  white  blood  runs  through 
the  veins  of  colored  people  who  have  proven  their 
susceptibility  to  higher  education.  I  believe,  and  I 
am  confident,  that  the  contents  of  this  book  will  help 
me  to  demonstrate  that  the  color  of  the  skin,  the  tex 
ture  of  the  hair,  and  the  formation  of  the  head,  have 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  development  and 
expansion  of  the  mind.  I  only  hope  that  the  white 
friends  may  be  made  to  feel  that  the  colored  people 
are  entitled  to  more  consideration  and  ought  to  be 
given  a  better  opportunity  to  fill  the  places  for  which 
they  are  being  fitted,  in  the  commercial  and  business 
life  of  this  country. 

Among  the  colored  readers  I  hope  to  stimulate  a 
greater  interest  in  these  institutions  and  thereby  help 
to  bring  the  race  up  to  a  higher  educational  and  social 
level.  In  order  that  my  book  might  not  be  too  large, 
I  had  to  omit  a  great  many  sketches  of  worthy  per- 


Preface.  xiii 

sons  and  institutions ;  but  I  tried  to  mention  one  or 
more  persons  engaged  in  the  different  branches  of 
business  and  professions.  So  any  who  are  omitted 
will  please  attribute  it  to  a  want  of  space  and  not  a 
neglect  or  oversight  on  my  part. 

I  shall  feel  that  I  have  accomplished  a  good  work 
if  I  have  set  before  my  readers  food  for  earnest 
thought  on  the  questions  involved. 

G.  F.  RICHINGS. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION *     •« 

PREFACE          .        .        .        . "« 

CHAPTER   I. 

BAPTIST   SCHOOLS    MANAGED    BY    WHITE   PEOPLE          ...       I? 

CHAPTER   II. 

BAPTIST    SCHOOLS    MANAGED    BY    COLORED    PEOPLE     .  .  .4! 

CHAPTER  III. 

CONGREGATIONAL    SCHOOLS 71 

CHAPTER  IV. 

EPISCOPAL    SCHOOLS  ........      88 

CHAPTERS  V.    AND  VI. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    SCHOOLS 97 

CHAPTER   VII. 

A.    M.    E.    SCHOOLS     .  .  ..  .  .  .  .  •    H? 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

I      M.    E.    ZION    SCHOOL       .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .143 

CHAPTER    IX. 

PRESBYTERIAN    SCHOOLS    MANAGED    BY    WHITE    PEOPLE      .  ,154 

CHAPTER   X. 

PRESBYTERIAN    SCHOOLS    MANAGED   BY   COLORED    PEOPLE  .    158 

CHAPTER  XI. 

TUSKEGEE  AND   NORMAL,   BOTH   IN   ALABAMA    ....    189 

CHAPTER   XII. 

ECKSTEIN     NORTON     UNIVERSITY,     GLOUCESTER,    AND    OTHER 

SCHOOLS      .          .  .          .  .  .  .  .  .  .   2l8 

(xiv) 


Contents.  xv 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

ATLANTA  UNIVERSITY  AND   BEREA  COLLEGE      .  .  .  .  248 

CHAPTER   XIV. 
INSTITUTE  FOR  COLORED  YOUTH,  CAMP  NELSON,  AND  CURRY 

SCHOOL   .        .        .        ...'••        •        •  254 

CHAPTER  XV. 

NASHVILLE,  TENN.       .  .  . 264 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

ATLANTA,  GA.,  AND   INDIANAPOLIS,  IND 273 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

FINE  PENMEN     .  ....  ...  .  .  .  278 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 

COLORED   LAWYERS    . 284 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

J.   H.    LEWIS  AND   OTHER    BUSINESS    MEN 297 

CHAPTER  XX. 

WALTER    P.    HALL   AND   OTHER   SUCCESSFUL    MERCHANTS  .  .316 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

BANKS,  INSURANCE  COMPANIES,  ETC.  .  .  .  .  .  -334 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

PATENTS   AND  OTHER   BUSINESS  INTERESTS  ....  342 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

COLORED   EDITORS    AND  JOURNALISTS          .  .  .  .  .   349 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

CHURCHES  .  .  .  .          ..          .  .  .  .    375 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

HOSPITALS   AND    HOMES     .  .  .  .  ,  ...    392 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 

PROMINENT    COLORED  WOMEN 41 1 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

DR.  JOHN  R.  FRANCIS  AND  HIS  PRIVATE  SANATORIUM  .  .   429 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

UNITED     PRESBYTERIAN     SCHOOLS,     BOYDTON    INSTITUTE,     AND 

CHRISTIANSBURG   INDUSTRIAL    INSTITUTE   ....  436 


jcvi  Contents. 


HAMPTON   INSTITUTE, 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

HAMPTON,    VA.           .           .           . 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

STATE  SCHOOLS   AND 

CALHOUN   SETTLEMENT     . 

.  461 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

C.   M.    E.   SCHOOLS 



•  472 

CHRISTIAN  SCHOOLS 
COLEMAN   MANUFACT1 

CHAPTER   XXXII. 

.  d.76 

CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

JRING   COMPANY 

.481 

RICHMOND,   VA. 

CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

.  486 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 

HERE  AND  THERE 498 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

NATIONAL    BAPTIST    PUBLISHING   BOARD    .  .  564 

CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

COLORED   SOLDIERS .    569 

CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

THE   METROPOLITAN    MERCANTILE    &    REALTY    CO.    AND   OTHER 

BUSINESS    AND    PROFESSIONAL    INTERESTS    OF   THE   RACE     .    572 

CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

CONCLUSION       .  592 

INDEX   TO    PORTRAITS    OF    PEOPLE 594 


EVIDENCES    OF    PROGRESS    AMONG 
COLORED   PEOPLE. 

CHAPTER  I. 

BAPTIST  SCHOOLS  MANAGED  BY  WHITE  PEOPLE. 

IN  1865  four  million  colored  people  suddenly 
emerged  from  bondage,  poor,  ignorant,  and  in 
many  cases  with  very  crude  notions  of  religion  or 
morality.  Not  one-third  of  those  who  had  arrived 
to  years  of  understanding  at  that  time  can  be  found 
among  the  eight  millions  of  colored  population 
to-day.  And  consequently,  the  younger  element  of 
this  race  know  little  or  nothing  about  the  great  con 
flict,  the  culmination  of  which  brought  to  their  fathers 
and  mothers  that  boon  of  all  human  aspiration — 
liberty.  ."With  the  mutations  of  time  in  Egypt,  a 
king  arose  who  knew  not  Joseph.  In  these  changes 
here,  a  new  generation  comes  on,  to  whom  occur 
rences  of  the  past  are  but  dim  and  sometimes  distorted 
traditions." 

To  my  mind,  the  last  generation  has  been  charac 
terized  by  greater  conflicts  and  has  been  freighted 
with  more  thrilling  events  than  any  generation 
through  which  the  history  of  this  country  has  brought 


I&  Evidences  of  Progress 

us.  Through  ignorance,  and  sometimes  indifference, 
we  are  in  serious  danger  of  depreciating  the  wonder 
ful  agencies  that  have  been  such  potent  factors  in  the 
growth  and  development  of  a  people.  It  is,  therefore, 
important  that  some  close  observer  of  events  con 
stantly  keep  before  the  people,  in  whose  interest  these 
factors  have  been  set  in  operation,  full  accounts  of  all 
the  developments,  that  the  young  may  be  inspired  to 
noble  aims  and  lofty  endeavors. 

While  such  a  task  is  not  an  easy  one,  I  feel  it  my 
duty  to  attempt  its  performance.  All  the  data  and 
every  observation  set  forth  in  these  chapters  have 
been  the  result  of  personal  investigation  among  the 
colored  people.  I  shall  give  in  this  chapter  a  brief 
history  of  the  schools  conducted  by  white  people  of 
the  Baptist  denomination  for  the  education  of  colored 
people.  In  this  work  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society  has  expended  since  1862  $3,000,000. 
The  value  of  school  property  acquired  by  the  so 
ciety  amounts  to  $900,000. 

When  before  this  society  "  came  the  vision  of 
emancipated  millions,  desperately  needy,  in  dire  dis 
tress  and  full  of  forebodings,  stretching  forth  their 
unshackled,  but  empty,  unskilled  and  helpless  hands 
for  friendly  aid  and  guidance,"  this  society  at  once 
took  them  in  and  offered  them  shelter  and  comfort. 
The  society  has  accomplished  wonders  for  the  colored 
people,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  colored  people  appre 
ciate  all  that  it  has  done  for  them. 

I  shall  begin  my  history  of  Baptist  schools  with 
Spelman  Seminary. 


Among  Colored  People.  19 


SPELMAN    SEMINARY. 

The  history  of  Spelman  Seminary  reads  like  a 
romance.  Beginning  in  1881,  in  the  gloomy  base 
ment  of  the  Friendship  Baptist  Church,  Atlanta,  Ga., 
a  church  owned  by  the  colored  people,  without  any 
of  the  accessories  needed  for  successful  school  work, 
with  but  two  teachers,  Miss  S.  B.  Packard  and  Miss 
Harriet  E.  Giles,  and  with  less  than  a  dozen  pupils,  it 
has  grown  to  be  the  largest  and  best  equipped  school 
for  the  training  of  colored  girls  in  the  United  States. 

The  institution  has  a  magnificent  location,  and  all 
of  the  buildings  are  specially  suited  to  its  needs. 
Spelman  has  a  large  and  able  faculty  of  earnest,  de 
voted  teachers,  an  attendance  of  pupils  numbered  by 
the  hundreds,  a  constituency  of  friends  and  patrons 
rapidly  extending  in  numbers  and  interest,  and  has 
made  for  itself  a  large  place  in  the  educational  forces 
of  the  South,  and  established  a  reputation  of  a  very 
high  order. 

The  question  of  the  education  of  the  colored  peo 
ple  as  a  preparation  for  citizenship,  just  after  the  war, 
demanded  careful  thought  and  prompt  treatment, 
and  among  the  noble  women  who  ventured  into  the 
South,  fully  equipped  to  do  the  service  they  felt  was 
needed,  were  Miss  S.  B.  Packard  and  Miss  H.  E. 
Giles.  The  Southern  white  people  could  not  reason 
ably  be  expected  to  throw  to  the  winds  all  their 
cherished  traditions  and  preconceptions  simply  be 
cause  they  had  acknowledged  defeat  at  the  hands  of 
the  Northern  people.  They  could  not  even  be  ex- 


2O  Evidences  of  Progress 

pected  to  at  once  admit  their  former  slaves  into  po 
litical  fellowship,  recognizing  them  as  equals  in  all 
the  rights  of  citizenship ;  nor  could  they  be  expected 
to  provide  schools  for  the  education  of  these  people. 
Out  of  a  consideration  of  these  facts,  Northern  people, 
moved  by  noble  and  unselfish  impulses,  made  their 
way  to  the  South  and  established  these  great  institu 
tions  for  the  education  of  colored  people. 

Both  Miss  Packard  and  Miss  Giles  had  made  for 
themselves  a  reputation  before  moving  from  their 
homes  in  New  England  to  Atlanta.  They  were 
identified  with  the  Woman's  Baptist  Home  Mission 
Society  and  had  indicated  their  zeal  for  the  promo 
tion  of  the  Society's  interest  in  the  most  practical 
manner.  The  work  done  at  Spelman  is  a  practical 
Christian  work,  and  the  young  ladies  who  graduate 
from  that  institution  are  the  very  best  specimens  of 
cultured  and  refined  womanhood.  This  school  is 
modeled  after  those  of  like  grade  established  for 
white  people.  This  should  be  the  case  with  all 
Southern  schools.  There  are  required  the  same 
qualifications  in  the  teachers,  the  same  text-books, 
the  same  course  of  study,  the  same  kinds  of  disci 
pline  that  are  found  in  similar  institutions.  There 
seems  to  be  no  point  in  the  equipment  or  general 
management  of  these  institutions  where  they  can 
diverge  safely  from  those  which  the  history  of  educa 
tion  has  shown  to  be  most  desirable  and  best  adapted 
to  their  purpose.  The  grounds,  buildings,  furniture, 
libraries,  text-books,  apparatus,  endowments  of  a  Ne 
gro  school  in  Georgia,  should  not  differ  in  any  re- 


Among  Colored  People.  21 

spect  from  the  equipment  of  a  similar  institution  for 
white  pupils  in  Massachusetts. 

Spelman  Seminary  is  a  power  for  good,  and  since 
the  death  of  Miss  S.  B.  Packard  is  managed  by  Miss 
H.  E.  Giles,  principal,  and  Miss  L.  H.  Upton,  asso 
ciate  principal. 

ROGER    WILLIAMS    UNIVERSITY. 

Roger  Williams  University  was  founded  in  1863 
by  Rev.  D.  W.  Phillips,  D.  D.,  who  was  for  many 
years  its  president.  Its  present  president  is  the  Rev. 
P.  B.  Guernsey,  A.  M.  The  total  enrolment  for  1900 
was  222 — 122  young  men  and  100  young  women. 
The  school  is  beautifully  situated  in  the  suburbs  of 
the  city  of  Nashville,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee. 

Nashville  has  become  the  chief  centre  of  education 
in  the  South,  both  for  the  white  and  colored  people. 
No  other  city  south  of  the  Ohio  offers  so  many  ad 
vantages  as  the  seat  of  an  institution  for  higher  learn 
ing.  The  University  grounds  lie  close  to  the  city 
limits,  on  the  Hillsboro'  turnpike,  just  beyond  the 
Vanderbilt  University.  The  location  is  high  and 
airy,  and  commands  an  unsurpassed  prospect  of  the 
city  and  surrounding  country. 

It  is  a  school  for  both  sexes.  It  has  Collegiate, 
Biblical  and  Theological,  Academic,  Normal,  Eng 
lish,  Musical  and  Industrial  Departments. 

The  Collegiate  Department  aims  at  a  thorough 
liberal  education  which  gives  the  student  the  posses 
sion  of  his  faculties  developed  and  trained,  a  general 
acquaintance  with  the  broad  principles  of  all  human 
knowledge,  and  a  preparation  for  a  special  study  of 


22  Evidences  of  Progress 

any  of  the  learned  professions.  This  department  has 
two  courses  :  the  classical,  leading  to  the  degree  of 
B.  A.,  and  the  scientific,  leading  to  the  degree  of 
B.  S. 

The  Biblical  and  Theological  Department  has  a 
general  and  special  aim.  Its  general  aim  is  to  make 
the  Bible  a  living  book  to  each  student.  Every 
pupil  in  the  school  receives  during  his  entire  course 
a  daily  lesson  in  the  Bible.  Its  special  aim  is  to  fur 
nish  better  preachers  of  the  Gospel  and  better  pas 
tors  of  the  churches.  Every  year  a  "  ministers' 
class  "  is  conducted  for  ten  weeks,  beginning  with  the 
first  day  of  January.  Members  of  the  class  have 
three  recitations  daily.  They  may  also  attend  such 
other  classes  as  they  can  with  profit  to  themselves. 

The  Academic  Department  prepares  for  college. 
It  consists  of  a  three  years'  course  in  classic  and 
mathematic  studies  that  link  the  English  Department 
to  the  college  work. 

The  Normal  Department  aims  to  furnish,  for  the 
public  schools  of  the  land,  teachers  that  will  raise  the 
tone  of  education  and  make  these  schools  more  effi 
cient.  It  consists  of  a  three  years  course  in  subjects 
best  adapted  for  this  purpose. 

The  English  Department  aims  to  give  the  pupil  a 
thorough  drill  in  the  elements  of  common  intelligence. 
Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetic,  Grammar,  Geography, 
Spelling  and  History  are  taught  by  the  best  of 
teachers,  so  that  the  young  people  are  prepared  to 
take  their  places  as  citizens  alongside  of  pupils  of 
the  most  favored  city  schools.  Parents  who  live  in 


24  Evidences  of  Progress 

rural  districts  and  in  country  towns,  where  the  public 
schools  are  of  short  duration  and  scant  equipments 
and  feeble  teaching,  will  find  here  facilities  for  Eng 
lish  education  that  are  not  surpassed  in  the  South. 

The  Musical  Department  aims  to  give  a  musical 
education,  both  vocal  and  instrumental,  that  will 
make  the  young  people  efficient  workers  in  church 
and  Sabbath  school  and  elevating  and  refining  mem 
bers  of  the  home  and  social  circles. 

The  Industrial  Department  does  not  aim  to  fit 
students  for  the  various  mechanical  trades,  but  it 
does  aim  to  give  them  instruction  and  experience, 
that  will  train  their  eyes  and  hands  and  make  them 
handy  in  the  use  of  tools. 

The  school  has  a  total  teaching  force  of  sixteen 
persons.  Six  of  these  are  graduates  of  the  best 
Northern  Universities.  Others  are  teachers  of  ex 
cellent  education  and  wide  experience. 

The  young  ladies  are  under  the  close  and  affec 
tionate  watchcare  of  a  New  England  lady,  whose 
treatment  of  them  is  noted  for  its  conscientiousness, 
its  piety  and  its  motherliness. 

A  number  of  the  male  teachers  live  in  the  build 
ing  with  the  young  men  and  thus  become  to  them 
constant  advisers,  counsellors  and  friends. 

The  religious  influences  of  the  school  are  pure, 
constant  and  strong. 

The  University  is  grandly  located  for  accessi 
bility,  healthfulness,  and  beauty.  It  is  near  enough 
to  the  city  of  Nashville  to  give  it  all  the  advantages 
of  city  life.  Yet  it  is  so  far  removed  from  the 


Among"  Colored  People.  25 

crowded  city  with  its  slums,  saloons  and  other  evils, 
that  it  is  virtually  in  the  country. 

The  property  of  the  school  is  valued  at  $80,000. 
It  has  a  small  endowment  fund  of  less  than  $1,000. 
Several  Indian  youths  from  the  Indian  Territory 
have  been  students  in  this  institution.  The  graduates 
are  widely  scattered  throughout  the  South,  occupy 
ing  positions  of  influence  and  usefulness. 

VIRGINIA    UNION    UNIVERSITY. 

Virginia  Union  University  has  been  formed  out  of 
two  very  excellent  schools,  where  a  great  work  has 
been  done  for  the  education  and  advancement  of  the 
colored  people,  namely,  Wayland  College,  which 
was  located  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Richmond 
Theological  Seminary,  at  Richmond,  Va.  Both  of 
these  schools  have  a  very  interesting  history.  Way- 
land  Seminary,  as  it  was  called,  was  founded  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  in  1865.  Rev.  G.  M.  P.  King 
was  president  of  it  for  twenty-seven  years.  The 
work  began  in  1865,  was  vigorously  followed  up  by 
the  purchase  of  property  on  •"  I  "  street  at  a  cost  of 
$1,500  from  monies  contributed  by  women  of  the 
North.  The  school  was  named  in  honor  of  President 
Francis  Wayland,  of  Brown  University.  In  1871 
a  new  site,  150  feet  square,  on  Meridian  Hill,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  city,  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of 
$3»375-  The  erection  of  a  new  building  was  begun 
in  1873.  It  was  a  fine  four-story  building,  with 
basement  and  accommodations  for  seventy-five  stu 
dents,  with  recitation  rooms  and  rooms  for  the  faculty. 


26  Evidences  of  Progress 

It  cost  about  $20,000.  The  walls,  from  the  founda 
tion  to  the  crowning,  were  constructed  by  colored 
bricklayers  under  the  supervision  of  a  master  work 
man,  an  ex-slave  from  Virginia,  who  purchased  his 
freedom  before  the  war.  Wayland  Seminary  has 
turned  out  some  very  able  men,  among  them  Rev. 
Harvey  Johnson,  D.  D.,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  who  is 
one  of  the  most  noted  colored  preachers  in  the 
country.  He  has  held  charge  of  one  of  the  largest 
Colored  Baptist  churches  in  the  United  States  for 
nearly  thirty  years. 

The  Richmond  Theological  Seminary,  at  Rich 
mond,  Va.,  has  a  very  remarkable  history.  It  was 
first  commenced  in  1868,  and  started  its  work  in 
Lumpkin's  Slave  Jail,  and  was  first  known  as  Colver 
Institute.  In  18/6  it  was  incorporated  as  the  Rich 
mond  Institute.  Subsequently  the  trustees  and  offi 
cers  of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Soci 
ety  decided  to  make  it  a  school  for  ministers  only, 
and  in  1886  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Richmond 
Theological  Seminary.  Rev.  Charles  Corey,  A.  M., 
D.  D.,  was  elected  president  in  1868.  and  remained 
in  charge  until  1899,  when  the  school  went  into  the 
Union  University.  In  speaking  of  the  work,  Rev. 
Corey  said :  "  Of  students  there  have  been  in  at 
tendance  nearly  1,100;  total  preparing  for  the  min 
istry,  540;  graduates  with  diplomas  from  Richmond 
Institute,  73  ;  total  graduates  with  degree  of  B.  D. 
from  Richmond  Theological  Seminary,  27.  Some 
of  these  graduates  are  now  in  charge  of  institutions 
of  learning,  others  are  professors  in  5eminaries 


Among  Colored  People*  27 

and  universities.  Six  entered  the  foreign  mission 
field.  The  former  students  of  the  Richmond  Theo 
logical  Seminary  are  to  be  found  from  Canada  to 
Texas,  and  in  the  lands  far  beyond  the  sea."  The 
school  has  had  among  its  teachers  such  men  as 
Prof.  J.  E.  Jones,  D.  D.,  and  Prof.  D.  N.  Vassar, 
D.  D.  Both  of  these  men  are  well  educated  and 
represent  a  high  type  of  true  manhood,  and  they 
have  done  much  to  advance  the  race  they  are  identi 
fied  with.  Now  Wayland  College  and  Seminary  and 
Richmond  Theological  Seminary  are  united  under 
one  board  of  trustees.  They  have  at  present  the 
Theological  Department,  the  College  Department, 
the  Academic  Department  and  the  Preparatory  De 
partment.  An  industrial  plant  will,  it  is  hoped,  be 
built.  They  already  teach  the  students  in  a  practical 
way  the  art  of  printing  and  of  managing  the  steam 
and  electrical  plant.  This  last  gives  them  quite  a 
knowledge  of  engineering.  The  new  buildings  num 
ber  eight — a  fine  library  building,  including  a  chapel 
and  library,  a  lecture  hall,  a  dining  hall,  a  dormitory, 
a  power  plant,  two  residences  and  a  stable.  They 
are  constructed  of  the  finest  granite,  and  could  not 
be  duplicated  for  $300,000.  They  are  situated  on  a 
hill  about  fifty  feet  above  the  valley — a  beautiful  lo 
cation  in  the  centre  of  thirty  acres.  The  buildings 
contain  every  modern  improvement — steam  heat  in 
all  the  rooms  and  halls,  electric  lighting  and  a  com 
plete  telephone  system  for  the  different  buildings 
and  floors,  and  most  approved  toilet  and  bath  ar 
rangements.  It  is  said  to  be  the  finest  group  of 
buildings  in  the  whole  South. 


28  Evidences  of  Progress 

Rev.  M.  Mac  Vicar,  Ph.  D.,  LL.  D.,  is  the  presi 
dent  of  the  University,  George  Rice  Hovey  the  dean 
of  Wayland  Seminary  and  College,  Rev.  George  F. 
Genung,  D.  D.,  the  dean  of  the  Theological  School. 
The  faculty  consists  of  fifteen  teachers  of  unusual 
ability,  graduates  of  the  best  colleges,  some  of  whom 
have  made  a  name  for  themselves  already.  About 
one-half  are  white.  The  courses  of  study  are  equal 
to  those  of  the  ordinary  Northern  schools  of  similar 
grade.  Virginia  Union  University  will  doubtless  be 
the  largest  Baptist  school  operated  for  colored  people, 
and  it  is  located  in  a  part  of  the  country  where  the 
colored  population  is  very  large,  and  especially 
among  the  Baptists. 

ATLANTA    BAPTIST   SEMINARY. 

On  the  corner  of  Hunter  and  Elliott  streets,  in  the 
city  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  there  stands  a  smoke-begrimed 
and  somewhat  dilapidated  brick  building  bearing  the 
inscription/' American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society, 
1879."  Directly  in  front  of  the  building  lies  the 
shunting-yard  of  the  Southern  Railroad.  The  local 
ity  is  one  of  the  nosiest,  dustiest  and  smokiest  in  the 
•  city.  It  was  in  this  building,  among  these  unfavorable 
surroundings,  that  the  work  of  the  Atlanta  Baptist 
Seminary  was  carried  on  from  1879  ^  l$9O- 

In  the  old  building  no  provision  was  made  for 
dormitories.  The  students,  most  of  whom  were  from 
the  country,  were  left  to  find  boarding-houses  where 
they  could,  and  besides  living  in  close  and  crowded 
homes,  where  the  atmosphere  was  not  specially  intel- 


Among  Colored  People.  29 

lectual  and  where  the  opportunities  for  quiet  study 
were  not  great,  they  were,  except  for  the  few  hours 
of  school  each  day,  beyond  the  control  and  watch- 
care  of  the  teachers  and  exposed  to  the  distractions 
and  temptations  of  the  city. 

For  twelve  years  prior  to  the  year  1 879  the  Seminary 
had  been  located  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  was  known  as 
"  The  Augusta  Institute." 

Upon  the  death  of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Robert,  LL.  D., 
president  for  fourteen  years,  which  occurred  in  1884, 
Rev.  Samuel  Graves,  D.  D.,  was  appointed.  Dr.  Graves 
was  quick  to  see  that  the  first  requisite  to  the  vigorous 
growth  of  the  school  was  a  transplanting.  Accord 
ingly,  he  set  to  work  to  secure  ground  and  building. 
As  the  result  of  his  efforts  the  present  campus  was 
secured  and  the  present  building  erected,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1890  the  Seminary  bade  farewell  to  the  old 
building  and  its  noisy  neighbors  and  took  up  its 
abode  in  its  new  home. 

The  main  building  of  the  institution  was  erected 
in  1889  at  a  cost  of  $27,000.  In  this  beautiful  build 
ing  the  visitor  will  find  chapel,  library,  eight  class 
rooms,  president's  apartments  and  rooms  for  six 
teachers,  dormitory  accommodation  for  about  one 
hundred  students,  besides  kitchen,  dining-room  and 
storerooms,  laundry,  printing  office,  workshop  and 
boiler-room.  Rev.  George  Sales  is  president. 

SHAW   UNIVERSITY. 

Shaw  University  is  beautifully  located  in  the  city 
of  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  within  ten  minutes'  walk 


30  Evidences  of  Progress 

of  the  post-office  and  capitol.  The  grounds,  upon 
which  have  been  erected  five  large  brick  buildings 
and  several  of  wood,  are  among  the  finest  in  the  cityr 
and  include  several  acres.  This  institution  furnishes 
by  far  the  largest  accommodations  of  any  colored 
school  in  North  Carolina,  and,  in  the  large  number 
of  advanced  pupils,  it  is  not  surpassed  by  any  colored 
school  in  the  country. 

Shaw  University  was  founded  in  1865  by  Dr.  H. 
M.  Tupper,  D.  D.,  who  conceived  the  desire  for  school 
work  among  the  colored  people  while  serving  as  a 
soldier  in  our  late  war.  He  started  his  first  school, 
which  has  grown  into  the  present  university,  in  a 
cabin  scarcely  ten  by  twenty  feet.  The  large  brick 
structures,  which  now  form  a  part  of  the  institution, 
are  looked  upon  with  great  interest  because  of  the 
fact  that  the  bricks  in  them  were  made  by  student 
labor  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Tupper. 

There  are  normal,  collegiate,  scientific,  music  and 
industrial  departments,  as  well  as  schools  of  pharmacy, 
law  and  medicine,  and  a  missionary  training  school, 
and  all  doing  good  work.  Every  graduate  of  the 
pharmacy  school,  class  of  1900,  recently  appeared  be 
fore  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  and  obtained  cer 
tificates  as  required  by  law.  Prof.  Chas.  F.  Meserve 
is  its  present  president,  since  the  death  of  Dr.  Tupper. 

The  Baptists  have  cause  to  be  proud  of  the  good 
work  done  at  Shaw  University.  Preachers  and 
teachers  by  the  hundreds  have  been  educated  at 
this  excellent  institution  for  home  and  foreign  mission 
nvork. 


Among  Colored  People.  31 

BISHOP    COLLEGE. 

Bishop  College  is  located  in  the  city  of  Marshall, 
the  county-seat  of  Harrison  county,  Texas.  For 
beauty  of  situation,  commodiousness  of  buildings, 
and  completeness  of  outfit  for  the  work,  this  institu 
tion  is  unsurpassed  by  any  school  for  the  colored 
people  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  Rev.  N.  Wolverton  has  been  succeeded  as 
president  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Loughridge,  who  will 
push  the  work  with  the  same  degree  of  vigor.  The 
dormitories  are  spacious  and  pleasant,  the  grounds 
are  ample  for  recreation,  and  those  who  go  there  to 
live  find  all  the  advantages  of  a  Christian  home. 

Every  student  must  understand  that,  in  entering 
the  school,  he  stands  pledged  to  willing  and  cheer 
ful  conformity  to  the  regulations  prescribed  by  the 
faculty  for  its  government. 

This  institution  was  founded  in  1881.  It  now  em 
ploys  nine  white  teachers  and  seven  colored.  Total 
number  of  students  in  attendance  daily  about  two 
hundred.  Amount  of  money  expended  yearly  for 
the  support  of  the  school,  $7,434. 

BENEDICT   COLLEGE. 

In  1870  a  desirable  site  for  an  institution  for  the 
education  of  colored  people  was  found  available  at 
Columbia,  S.  C.  As  this  was  the  capital  of  the  State, 
and  central,  it  was  decided  to  locate  it  here.  A 
noble  woman  in  New  England,  Mrs.  B.  A.  Benedict, 
of  Providence,  R.  I.,  gave  $10,000  towards  its  pur 
chase,  the  cost  being  $16,000.  The  property  con- 


32  Evidences  of  Progress 

sisted  of  nearly  eighty  acres  of  land.  In  honor  of 
the  deceased  husband  of  the  donor,  Dea.  Stephen 
Benedict,  brother  of  David  Benedict,  the  historian, 
the  Board  called  the  school  "  Benedict  Institute." 

It  was  opened  December  I,  1870, .  under  the 
charge  of  Rev.  Timothy  S.  Dodge,  as  principal. 
The  first  pupil  was  a  colored  preacher,  sixty  years 
old.  In  October,  1887,  Rev.  Lewis  Colby  succeeded 
Mr.  Dodge  under  appointment  of  the  Board. 

Upon  his  resignation  in  1879,  Rev.  E.  J.  Good- 
speed,  D.  D.,  was  appointed.  He  entered  upon  his 
work  in  October,  continuing  until  his  death,  in  the 
summer  of  1881.  Rev.  C.  E.  Becker  was  selected 
as  his  successor  and  went  to  Columbia  in  October, 
1882,  but  at  this  writing  the  president  is  Rev.  A.  C. 
Osborn,  D.  D. 

During  1879-80,  Rev.  Lewis  Colby,  deeply  im 
pressed  with  the  need  of  better  accommodations, 
rspecially  for  girls,  devoted  his  time  without  com 
pensation,  and  with  the  approval  of  the  Board,  to 
raising  $5,000  for  a  girls'  building.  This  amount 
being  secured,  together  with  an  additional  offering 
from  Mrs.  Benedict,  two  frame  buildings  were 
erected  in  1881.  Towards  the  furnishing  of  the 
buildings,  the  colored  people  of  the  State  gave  over 
$1,600.  The  girls'  building  is  known  as  "Colby 
Hall."  Better  quarters  for  the  young  men  are 
greatly  needed.  By  special  act  of  the  South  Caro 
lina  Legislature,  through  the  efforts  of  President 
Becker  and  the  co-operation  of  leading  Baptists,  the 
institution  in  1882  was  exempted  from  taxation. 


Among  Colored  People.  33 

LELAND    UNIVERSITY. 

Leland  University  was  founded  in  1870  for  the 
higher  education  of  such  men  and  women  as  desired 
to  fit  themselves  for  Christian  citizenship,  either  as 
ministers,  teachers,  or  tradesmen.  It  is  open  to  all 
persons  who  are  fitted  to  enjoy  its  advantages,  with 
out  distinction  of  race,  color,  or  religious  opinions. 
The  University  owes  its  existence  to  the  late  Hoi- 
brook  Chamberlain,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  who 
erected  the  buildings,  assisted  in  its  management, 
and  at  his  death  left  to  it  the  bulk  of  his  property, 
about  $100,000,  as  an  endowment  fund,  the  interest 
of  which  goes  to  the  payment  of  teachers. 

The  University  has  a  library  and  reading-room, 
which  is  supplied  with  the  leading  journals  and 
periodicals  of  the  day. 

There  is  a  Literary  Society,  the  "  Philomathean,"' 
composed  of  young  men  and  young  women,  which 
holds  weekly  meetings  for  mutual  improvement. 

The  students  also  constitute  a  recognized  branch 
of  the  International  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa 
tion  and  of  the  National  Society  of  Christian  En 
deavor. 

Dr.  R.  W.  Perkins  was  elected  president  in  1901 
to  fill  the  place  of  Pres.  Mitchell,  deceased.  He  will 
be  supported  by  a  corps  of  earnest,  faithful  teachers. 

The  University  is  situated  on  St.  Charles  avenue, 
New   Orleans,    La.,    and    its    retirement    from    the 
crowded  part  of  the  city  renders  it  peculiarly  adapted 
to  study. 
3 


34  Evidences  of  Progress 

HARTSHORN  MEMORIAL  COLLEGE. 

This  institution  was  chartered  by  the  Legislature 
of  Virginia,  March  13,  1884,  with  full  collegiate  and 
university  powers. 

Hartshorn  Memorial  College  is  located  at  the  west 
end  of  Leigh  street,  Richmond,  Va.  The  grounds 
comprise  eight  and  one-half  acres,  well  elevated,  and 
shaded  in  part  by  a  belt  of  native  forest  trees.  The 
object  of  the  institution  is  to  train  colored  women 
for  practical  work  in  the  broad  harvest  of  the  world. 

The  president,  Rev.  Lyman  B.  Tefft,  D.  D.,  claims 
that  among  the  millions  of  colored  women  in 
the  United  States  there  is  the  same  need  and  the 
same  field  for  trained  and  cultured  Christian  service 
as  among  the  whites.  Life  for  them  has  the  same 
meaning  as  for  any  other  race.  They  have  the  same 
social,  intellectual  and  spiritual  necessities.  They 
are  a  people  essentially  by  themselves.  There  is, 
therefore,  for  the  educated  colored  woman,  the  same 
wide  and  ready  field  of  Christian  work  and  influence 
as  for  any  others. 

THE  MATHER  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL. 

This  school  is  located  on  a  bluff  in  the  suburbs  of 
Beaufort,  S.  C.  It  was  established  just  after  the  war, 
by  Mrs.  Rachel  C.  Mather,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  who  is 
still  its  principal,  assisted  by  six  other  white  teachers. 

Mrs.  Mather  was  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Boston  during  the  Civil  War,  and  just  after  the 
conflict  was  over  she  went  South  to  do  the  work  of 


Among-  Colored  People.  35 

her  life.  The  history  of  her  efforts  are  interesting 
in  every  detail  and  inspires  the  reader  with  an  appre 
ciation  for  the  noble  work  of  a  noble  woman. 

Mrs.  Mather  conducts  an  orphanage  in  connection 
with  the  school,  and  during  the  twenty-seven  years 
of  her  labors  in  this  section,  a  great  many  orphan 
children  have  been  cared  for  and  trained  from  child 
hood  to  noble  manhood  and  womanhood. 

It  is  the  aim  of  this  school  to  reach  the  homes 
of  the  common  people  and  develop  the  good  quali 
ties  in  the  young  men  and  young  women  of  the  race. 

I  regard  this  work  as  being  one  of  the  most  im 
portant  schools  in  the  South.  This  lady  has  borne 
all  the  cares,  anxieties  and  difficulties  engendered  in 
this  peculiar  work  for  these  many  years,  with  remark 
able  fortitude  and  courage. 

People  who  have  always  lived  in  the  North  cannot 
appreciate  what  it  means  to  go  South  and  take  charge 
of  a  colored  school.  I  have  talked  with  many  of  the 
men  and  women  now  at  the  head  of  such  institutions, 
and  they  tell  me  that  it  is  the  rarest  thing  for  the 
Southern  white  people  to  ever  come  near  them,  or 
even  speak  of  them,  except  in  the  most  disrespectful 
manner.  In  fact,  in  the  early  days  of  freedom 
Northern  teachers  could  hardly  stay,  because  of  their 
treatment  on  the  part  of  the  whites.  There  has 
been  a  great  change,  and  many  of  the  Southern 
people  are  willing  now  to  admit  that  the  white 
teachers  have  done  a  most  excellent  work  for  the 
race,  but  they  still  let  them  good  and  well  alone. 
But  in  many  cases  it  is  a  great  help  to  be  let  alone, 
and  especially  when  their  recognition  would  not  be 
friendly. 


36  Evidences  of  Progress 

DAWES  ACADEMY. 

Dawes  Academy  is  located  at  Berwin,  I.  T.  Rev. 
Geo.  Home,  principal.  This  school. has  an  average 
attendance  of  about  100.  It  is  developing  rapidly. 
Rev.  Horne  is  assisted  by  three  teachers. 

JACKSON    COLLEGE. 

This  institution,  as  Natchez  College,  was  founded 
by  the  A.  B.  H.  Miss.  Soc.  at  Natchez,  Miss.,  in  1878. 
In  1883,  as  Jackson  College,  it  was  established  in 
Jackson,  the  State  capital.  Rev.  Luther  G.  Barrett, 
A.  M.,  is  president,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College 
and  of  Newton  Theological  Institution,  a  practical 
educator,  and  who  was  for  a  time  professor  in  Shaw 
University,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  It  is  beautifully  and 
healthfully  situated  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  with 
fine  buildings  and  an  able  corps  of  ten  teachers.  Its 
field  is  immense,  Mississippi  having  800,000  negroes. 
It  had,  up  to  the  present  yellow  fever  scourge,  200 
students,  and  will,  no  doubt,  with  the  passing  of  the 
fever,  soon  eclipse  this  number,  as  under  its  present 
efficient  management  it  is  fast  gaining  in  popularity. 
It  does  superior  work,  its  academical  and  classical 
departments  comparing  favorably  with  those  of  simi 
lar  first-class  institutions  of  the  North,  while  it  is 
just  beginning  regular  college  work.  It  has  also  a 
fine  preparatory  department  and  excellent  graded 
musical  course.  It  is  pre-eminently  a  Christian 
school,  the  Bible  being  taught  in  grades  one  hour 
daily.  Revivals  are  frequent,  and  generally  each 


Among  Colored  People.  37 

session  closes  with  nearly  every  student  a  Christian. 
Its  students  stand  high  in  the  State  as  teachers,  while 
many  go  on  to  professional  schools  of  law,  medicine 
and  theology.  Its  great  aim  is  to  supply  leaders. 

STOKER   COLLEGE — FREE-WILL    BAPTISTS. 

At  Harper's  Ferry,  W.  Va.,  within  sight  of  where 
John  Brown  made  his  famous  raid,  stands  Storer 
College.  The  beautiful  valley  of  the  Shenandoah 
could  not  contain  anything  that  would  add  more 
to  its  beauty  than  this  splendid  institution  of  learn 
ing. 

This  school  has  a  most  interesting  history.  Just 
after  the  Civil  War,  when  the  glare  of  cannon  and  the 
din  of  gun  had  faded  away,  this  school  was  started. 

The  school  is  conducted  by  the  Free-will  Baptists. 

In  February  of  1867,  President  O.  B.  Cheney  visited 
Mr.  John  Storer,  of  Sanford,  Me.,  in  behalf  of  Bates 
College.  Although  not  a  Free-will  Baptist,  Mr.  Storer 
was  deeply  interested  in  the  history  and  aims  of  the 
denomination.  During  the  conversation  he  said  to 
Dr.  Cheney:  "I  have  determined  to  give  $10,000 
to  some  society  which  will  raise  an  equal  amount 
toward  the  founding  of  a  school  in  the  South  for  the 
benefit  of  the  colored  people.  I  should  prefer  that 
your  denomination  have  this  money,  only  that  I  fear 
that  they  will  not  or  can  not  meet  my  condition.  I 
am  old  and  I  desire  to  see  the  school  started  before 
I  die ;  so  as  you  came  I  was  about  writing  to  the 
American  Missionary  Association,  making  them  this 


38  Evidences  of  Progress 

proposal,  and  I  am  confident  they  will  accept  and 
rapidly  advance  the  project." 

In  reply  Dr.  Cheney  pleaded  that  he  be  allowed  to 
make  an  effort.  He  told  him  of  the  Southern  enter 
prise,  of  its  needs,  and  added  :  "A  school  there  is  just 
what  we  must  have  in  order  to  carry  forward  the 
work.  We  shall  feel  that  God  has  heard  our  prayers 
and  is  blessing  our  labor  if  you  will  give  us  your 
support.  You  may  set  your  own  time — one  year, 
six  months,  or  less — only  let  us  try'' 

Mr.  Storer  came  to  a  favorable  decision  before 
twelve  o'clock  that  night. 

Monday,  Oct.  2,  1867,  Storer  College  commenced 
its  noble  work — the  outcome  of  which  eternity  alone 
can  truly  unfold.  It  began  with  nineteen  pupils 
(from  the  immediate  vicinity)  and  with  one  assistant 
teacher,  Mrs.  M.  W.  L.  Smith,  of  Maine,  under  Mr. 
Brackett  as  principal.  The  school  opened  in  the 
government  building — known  as  the  "  Lockwood 
House  " — and  this  one  building  served  for  dwelling- 
house,  school  and  church. 

The  efforts  to  obtain  a  gift  of  this  property  were 
now  redoubled.  Dr.  James  Calder  of  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  was  especially  active  in  furthering  this  project. 
Finally,  through  the  earnest  support  of  Mr.  Fes- 
senden  in  the  Senate  and  of  Gen.  Garfield  in  the 
House,  a  bill  to  this  effect  passed  Congress  Dec.  3, 
1868,  and  the  four  buildings,  with  seven  acres  of 
land,  worth  about  $30,000,  became  the  property  of 
the  institution.  Had  this  failed,  the  site  of  the  school 
would  have  been  at  the  Bolivar  Farm.  As  it  was, 


Among  Colored  People.  39 

the  farm,  through  cultivation  and  sale  of  lots,  largely 
assisted  in  supporting  the   school  during  its  infancy. 

In  September  of  1867  the  Freedmen's  Bureau 
donated  $500,  which  was  used  in  making  needed 
repairs,  and  soon  after  the  school  opened,  paid  over 
the  promised  $6,00®  to  a  temporary  Stock  Company 
organized  under  the  laws  of  West  Virginia.  But 
the  "  Bureau  "  did  far  more  than  it  promised,  and  as 
long  as  it  existed  ceased  not  to  render  generous  and 
efficient  aid.  Among  its  further  benefactions  were 
$4,000  to  renovate  the  shattered  government  build 
ings,  and  about  $1,500  toward  the  running  expenses. 
Altogether,  including  about  $4,000  for  the  erection, 
in  1868,  of  Lincoln  Hall — a  boarding-hall  for  boys — 
the  Freedmen's  Bureau  contributed  $18,000  toward 
the  upbuilding  of  Storer  College.  How  the  institu 
tion  could  have  flourished  or  even  lived  without  this 
external  aid,  it  is  difficult  to  realize,  for  the  denomina 
tion  was  heavily  freighted  with  the  needs  of  other 
important  enterprises. 

The  school  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition  and 
is  doing  a  noble  and  elevating  work  in  behalf  of 
civilization. 

Crowning,  as  they  do,  the  heights  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  the  buildings  of  Storer  College  are  conspicuous 
objects  in  every  direction.  A  passing  allusion 
should  be  made  to  the  wondrous  scenery  which  sur 
rounds  Storer  College — to  witness  which,  Thomas 
Jefferson  wrote  :  "  It  were  worth  a  journey  across  the 
Atlantic."  And  the  most  unappreciative  observer  can 


4O  Evidences  of  Progress. 

but  feel  that  the  outspread  grandeur  and  beauty  must 
exert  an  elevating  influence. 

The  institution  has  three  departments — Prepara 
tory,  Normal,  and  Classical.  It  has  had  over  1,200 
different  pupils,  has  sent  out  more  than  300  teachers 
and  about  30  ministers.  In  one  year  its  students  have 
numbered  232,  and  both  total  and  average  attendance 
are  constantly  increasing.  In  1875  a  summer  term 
for  teachers  was  inaugurated.  Its  session  holds 
through  June  and  July,  and  it  is  greatly  appreciated 
by  those  whose  only  opportunity  for  further  study 
and  progress  is  at  this  time. 

No  one  can  visit  Harper's  Ferry  without  coming 
away  overflowing  with  wonder  and  enthusiasm.  One 
stands  abashed  before  the  brave  spirit,  the  devotion 
and  never-mentioned  sacrifices  of  our  toilers  there. 

Rev.  N.  C.  Brackett  served  this  institution  as 
its  president  from  its  beginning  until  1897,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Ernest  Earle  Osgood,  a  young 
man  of  most  excellent  qualifications  for  such  a 
position.  He  comes  of  that  class  of  New  England 
people  who  have  done  so  much  for  the  education  of 
colored  people.  Rev.  Osgood  will  doubtless,  because 
of  his  youth,  add  vigor  and  energy  to  the  school 
that  will  be  helpful  in  bringing  a  larger  attendance. 


CHAPTER  II. 

BAPTIST  SCHOOLS  MANAGED  BY  COLORED  PEOPLE. 

IN  this  chapter  I  shall  deal  with  the  Baptist  schools 
managed  by  colored  people.  Many  of  these  schools 
have  had  a  very  hard  struggle  ;  but  by  the  patriotism 
and  race  pride  of  the  colored  people,  they  have  been 
constantly  growing  and  developing,  until  to-day 
they  are  among  the  very  best  educational  institutions 
in  this  country. 

I  open  this  chapter  with  a  brief  sketch  of  "  The 
Western  College,"  located  at  Macon,  Mo.,  because  I 
regard  it  as  one  of  the  best  schools  of  the  kind  in 
the  West. 

THE  WESTERN  COLLEGE. 

One  of  the  best  institutions  in  the  West  for  the 
education  of  Negroes  is  The  Western  College  located 
at  Macon,  Mo.  Since  it  was  founded,  in  Jan 
uary,  1890,  its  growth  has  been  extraordinary,  and 
to-day  (1901)  its  temporary  buildings  are  crowded 
with  earnest  young  men  and  women  anxious  to  secure 
a  Christian  education.  Believing  that  religious  prin 
ciples  should  underlie  all  true  education,  the  Negro 
Baptists  of  Missouri,  several  years  prior  to  1890,  had 
in  mind  the  establishment  of  a  Christian  institution 
in  which  ministers  might  receive  biblical  training 
and  where  hundreds  of  men  and  women  might  be 

(40 


42  Evidences  of  Progress 

educated  and  thoroughly  trained  for  teaching  and 
other  useful  pursuits  in  life.  They  realized  that  the 
Christian  college  is  one  of  the  greatest  forces  in  the 
aid  of  Christianity,  inasmuch  as  its  great  aim  is  to 
build  up  a  character  in  accord  with  the  principles 
of  God's  Word.  When  first  opened,  the  school  was 
conducted  in  rented  quarters  at  Independence,  Mo., 
for  a  part  of  two  sessions.  In  the  Fall  of  1891 
the  Board  of  Trustees  purchased  twelve  acres  of 
land,  conveniently  located  within  the  city  limits,  at 
a  cost  of  $4,000.  The  school  was  opened  here 
in  January,  1892.  At  present  two  buildings  are 
occupied,  but  the  growth  of  the  school  has  rendered 
these  wholly  inadequate  for  the  demands  of  the  work. 
The  colored  Baptists  themselves  have  raised  a  large 
amount  of  money  for  paying  on  the  property,  for 
current  expenses  and  for  building  purposes.  In 
this  work  they  have  been  kindly  assisted  by  The 
Home  Mission  Society  of  New  York,  which  has 
contributed  annually  toward  the  payment  of  teachers. 
But  for  its  timely  aid,  the  work,  so  well  begun,  must 
have  suffered. 

Located  as  this  school  is,  in  the  northern 
part  of  Missouri,  it  has  a  large  territory  from 
which  to  draw.  Students  have  matriculated  from 
Kansas,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Mississippi  and  Alabama. 
With  enlarged  facilities  in  the  v/ay  of  commo 
dious  buildings  and  apparatus,  the  power  of  this 
institution  in  the  development  of  the  Negro  race  in 
Missouri  and  the  West  will  be  beyond  calculation. 
In  view  of  these  facts  the  college  should  receive 


Among  Colored  People. 


43 


substantial  encouragement  from  those  who  are  philan- 
thropically  inclined. 

PROF.    E.    L.    SCRUGGS,    B.  D. 

Realizing  that  the  lives  of  public  men  are  in  some 


PROF.  E.  L.  SCRUGGS,  B.  D. 


sense  the  property  of  the  world,  and  also  that  true 
lives  are  not  lived  for  self,  but  for  humanity,  it  affords 
the  writer  pleasure  to  speak  of  one  of  Missouri's 
noble  sons,  President  Enos  L.  Scruggs,  B.  D.,  one 


44  Evidences  of  Progress 

who  has  risen  by  gradual  steps  to  the  position  he 
now  holds,  overcoming  many  flinty  obstacles  to 
progress.  He  is  an  example  of  a  self-made  man. 
Having  been  left  both  motherless  and  fatherless  early 
in  life,  he  was  left  to  combat  with  the  world  without 
the  loving  and  tender  care  and  helpful  influences  of 
a  mother.  By  great  perseverance  and  earnest  efforts 
he  completed  with  credit  the  course  of  study  at  Lin 
coln  Institute,  Jefferson  City,  Mo. 

Early  in  life  he  professed  a  hope  in  Christ,  and 
feeling  that  he  was  called  to  the  work  of  the  min 
istry,  he  prepared  himself  by  a  course  of  study  in 
the  Union  Baptist  Theological  Seminary,  Morgan 
Park,  111.,  which  has  recently  become  "  The  Di 
vinity  School "  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  grad 
uating  from  there  with  honor  with  the  degree  of  B.  D. 
He  accepted  a  call  immediately  to  the  Second  Bap 
tist  Church,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  Ever  seeking 
to  go  higher  and  higher  intellectually,  he  availed 
himself  of  the  opportunities  afforded  him  at  the  Uni 
versity  of  Michigan.  After  a  very  successful  pas 
torate  of  twenty-eight  months,  he  resigned  October 
I,  1892,  to  accept  the  Presidency  of  the  Western 
College,  where  he  has  most  creditably  filled  the 
position  ever  since,  doing  a  noble  work  in  this  field. 
He  is  building  a  monument  by  his  earnest  efforts 
and  faithfulness  to  duty  that  will  always  be  an  honor 
to  him,  to  the  race  and  to  the  denomination.  As  he 
is  a  young  man  and  constantly  striving  for  richer 
and  better  results,  we  wish  for  him  continued  success 
and  that  no  record  will  reveal  greater  riches  than  his, 


Among-  Colored  People.  45 

and  that  his  may  present  to  all  a   heritage  of  heroic 
deeds. 

THE    BIBLE    AND    NORMAL    INSTITUTE. 

The  above-named  institution  was  founded  and  in 
corporated  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  the  year  1887, 
through  the  philanthropy  of  Mr.  Peter  Howe,  of 
Winona,  111.  Located  as  it  is  near  the  lines  of  three 
States — Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and  Arkansas — the 
school  has  great  possibilities  among  the  host  of 
Baptists  in  that  section,  under  whose  auspices  it  is 
conducted. 

The  Howe  building,  which  the  school  occupies,  is 
a  brick  structure  two  stories  above  the  basement,  and 
is  valued  at  nearly  $18,000.  The  primary  depart 
ment  is  conducted  in  the  basement.  The  first  floor 
contains  the  principal's  office,  the  chapel,  and  recita 
tion-rooms,  while  a  commodious  and  well-fitted  lec 
ture-room  and  several  "  living  rooms  "  comprise  the 
second  floor. 

As  the  charter  of  incorporation  indicates,  the  insti 
tution  was  established  for  the  purposes  of  giving 
Bible,  literary,  scientific,  and  industrial  instruction  ; 
training  preachers  and  teachers  and  other  Christian 
workers.  The  history  of  the  institution  is  a  proof 
of  the  fact  that  these  objects  have  constantly  been 
before  the  management  of  the  same.  Many  of  the 
very  best  teachers,  preachers,  and  other  missionary 
workers  in  the  section  from  which  the  school  draws 
its  patronage  owe  their  success  directly  to  its  in 
struction  and  influence. 

The  success  of  the  women's  missionary  and  nurse 


46  Evidences  of  Progress 

training  and  the  theological  departments  has  been 
very  marked. 

The  session  of  1896  and  1897  was  the  first  under 
the  control  of  a  colored  principal,  Prof.  Nathaniel  H. 


PROF.  JOSHUA   LEVISTER,  A.  B. 


Pius,  a  graduate  of  Leland  University,  New  Orleans, 
La.,  who  held  the  position  for  two  years,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Prof.  Joshua  Levister,  A.  B.,  who  is 
a  graduate  from  Shaw  University,  at  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Prof.  Levister  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  He  is 


Among  Colored  People.  47 

a  young  man  of  splendid  character  and  very  much 
thought  of  by  all  who  know  him. 

The  statistics  for  the  session  of  1897  and  1898 
show  the  following  figures  :  Enrollment,  males,  85  ; 
females,  90;  number  preparing  to  teach,  35;  num 
ber  preparing  to  preach,  19;  number  pursuing  mis 
sionary  and  nurse-training  course,  30. 

At  present  the  faculty  consists  of  seven  members, 
five  colored  and  two  white. 

The  school  is  located  among  thousands  of  Baptists, 
and  will  in  time  take  its  place  as  one  of  the  very 
large  Baptist  schools.  Prof.  Levister  is  a  young 
and  energetic  man,  who  will  be  able  to  push  the 
work  with  vigor.  They  will  in  time  be  able  to  add 
more  of  the  industrial  work,  which  will  be  of  great 
help  to  certain  classes  of  students  who  do  not  care 
to  take  the  higher  courses,  and  will  find  industrial 
education  very  helpful  to  them. 

VIRGINIA    BAPTIST   SEMINARY. 

The  Virginia  Seminary  was  founded  by  the  Vir 
ginia  Baptist  State  Convention  during  its  annual 
session  of  May,  1887,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  was 
incorporated  February  24,  1888,  by  an  act  of  the 
General  Assembly.  The  aim  of  the  Seminary  is  to 
give  a  thorough  and  practical  education  to  the  col 
ored  youth.  Under  the  provisions  of  the  charter  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  purchase  suitable  grounds, 
which  committee  purchased  the  present  site  at  Lynch- 
burg.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  in  July,  1888.  The 


48  Evidences  of  Progress 

school  was  opened  January  13,  1890.  The  property  is 
held  in  trust  by  a  Board  of  Managers  for  the  Virginia 
Baptist  State  Convention.  The  school  is  supported 
by  the  colored  Baptists  of  Virginia,  who  number 
more  than  200,000. 

At  the  time  this  sketch  was  written  the  valuation 
of  the  entire  property  of  the  institution  was  estimated 


VIRGINIA    BAPTIST   SEMINARY,    LYNCHBURG,   VA. 

at  $40,000.  The  enrolment  of  students  for  1900 
numbered  250.  The  development  of  this  institution 
has  been  most  creditable  to  the  Baptists  of  the  State 
of  Virginia. 

The  following  compose  the  faculty  of  this  institu 
tion  for  1896 : 

Prof.  Gregory  W.  Hayes,  A.  M.,  President,  Prof. 
Bernard  Tyrrell,  A.  M.,  Prof.  J.  M.  Arter,  A.  M.,  Prof. 
U.  S.  G.  Patterson,  George  Moore,  Mrs.  Mittie  E. 
Tyler,  Miss  Lula  E.  Johnson,  R.  Lee  Hemmings, 


Among-  Colored  People.  49 

Lewis  W.  Black,  Miss  Carrie  L.  Callaway,  Walter 
W.  Johnson,  Miss  Minnie  Norvell. 

The  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Managers  is  Rev. 
R.  Spiller ;  secretary,  Rev.  P.  F.  Morris. 

Rev.  P.  F.  Morris,  D.  D.,  was  the  first  president  of 
the  Seminary,  but  on  account  of  failing  health  he 
resigned  the  position  before  the  institution  had  been 
completed. 

PROF.    GREGORY   W.    HAYES,    A.  M. 

When  President  G.  W.  Hayes  was  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  the  work,  he  had  to  start  under  many 
disadvantages,  a  depleted  treasury  on  the  part  of 
the  Baptist  State  Convention,  and  with  no  available 
sources  from  which  financial  aid  could  readily  be  pro 
cured.  By  his  zeal  and  enterprise  a  large  building 
now  crowns  one  of  the  most  beautiful  hills  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lynchburg. 

Prof.  Gregory  W.  Hayes  was  born  of  slave  par 
ents  in  Amelia  county,  Va.,  September  8,  1862. 
He  graduated  from  Oberlin,  one  of  the  first  institu 
tions  of  learning  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  in  the  class  of 
'88  and  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  pure  mathematics 
in  the  Virginia  Normal  and  Collegiate  Institute, 
which  position  he  held  for  three  years.  He  was  the 
first  president  of  the  National  Baptist  Educational 
Convention  for  the  United  States  and  was  commis- 
sioner-in-chief  from  Virginia  for  the  Southern  Inter- 
State  Exposition.  He  was  elected  president  of  Vir 
ginia  Seminary  in  1891. 

In  young  men  like  Prof.  Hayes  rests  the  future  of 
the  race.  He  is  an  able  orator,  and  whenever  he 
4 


50  Evidences  of  Progress 

speaks  to  a  body  of  people  he  enlightens  them.     The 
future  before   him  is  bright.     Modest,   unassuming, 


PROF.  GREGORY   W.  HAYES,  A.  M. 


brilliant,  he  stands  tip-toe  upon  the  threshold  of  suc 
cess  and  justice  bids  him  enter. 


ARKADELPHIA    ACADEMY. 


The  Arkadelphia  Academy  was  organized  Aug, 
15,  1890,  as  Arkadelphia  Industrial  College.  In 
1892  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Arkadelphia 


Among  Colored  People.  51 

Academy,  and  it  was  made  tributary  to  the  Arkansas 
Baptist  College  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.  The  school 
had  few  friends  and  no  money  when  started ;  but  in 
1896  the  property  was  valued  at  $12,000. 

F.  L.  Jones,  A.  M.,  is  the  principal.  The  object  of 
the  school  is  to  train  workers  for  the  Sabbath  school 
and  other  departments  of  church  and  Christian  work  . 
to  this  end  every  person  in  the  school  is  required  to 
study  the  Bible,  as  the  Bible  is  the  foundation  of  all 
instruction  given,  and  with  it  go  all  the  cognate 
studies.  The  institution  is  located  at  Arkadelphia, 
Arkansas. 

THE   FLORIDA    INSTITUTE. 

The  history  of  "  The  Florida  Institute,"  at  Live 
Oak,  Fla.,  is  interwoven  with  every  effort  of  the 
colored  Baptists  of  the  State.  As  early  as  1 868,  when 
the  colored  Baptist  churches  in  Florida  were  very 
few,  the  fathers  of  the  church  in  that  section  took 
the  initiatory  steps  toward  the  establishment  of  this 
institution. 

After  much  deliberation  Live  Oak  was  chosen  as 
the  place  of  location.  About  three  and  a  half  acres 
of  land,  with  an  incomplete  building,  originally  in 
tended  for  a  court  house,  were  purchased  at  a  cost  of 
$2,000.  This  money  was  raised  by  the  colored  Bap 
tists  of  Florida.  The  final  payment  was  made  in 
1876.  The  school  was  incorporated  the  same  year. 
The  school  was  opened  October  I,  1860.  Rev.  J.  L. 
A.  Fish  was  the  first  president.  He  was  assisted  in  the 
work  by  his  wife  and  other  teachers  from  the  North. 


52  Evidences  of  Progress   . 

Under  his  wise  management  the  school  rose  rapidly, 
against  many  odds,  and  took  rank  among  the  best  of 
its  kind  in  the  State.  His  administration  lasted  ten 
years,  during  which  time  the  school  developed  into  a 
power  for  good,  and  its  influence  became  far-reaching. 
Many  of  the  ablest  teachers  and  ministers  of  the 
State  were  trained  in  this  institution.  Others,  who 
have  made  success  in  business  and  in  professions,  re 
ceived  their  training  in  the  Florida  Institute. 

In  1882  a  two-story  frame  building  for  the  accom 
modation  of  girls  was  erected.  In  1884  additional 
grounds  and  a  building  for  a  boys'  dormitory  were 
purchased,  making  in  all  about  ten  acres  of  land,  a 
school  building,  two  dormitories,  and  the  president's 
residence.  Total  valuation,  about  $15,000. 

From  1882  to  1887  Dr.  Fish  edited  and  published 
The  Florida  Baptist,  the  denominational  State  organ. 
The  work  was  done  chiefly  by  the  students.  Also 
in  the  Institute's  printing  office  the  work  of  printing 
the  minutes  of  the  State  Convention  and  the  various 
associations  was  conducted  for  several  years.  The 
Florida  Institute  Messenger  is  now  published  monthly 
by  the  school. 

The  library  of  the  school  contains  about  I,OOO 
volumes,  many  of  which  are  of  great  value. 

The  annual  enrolment  averages  about  125.  Many 
of  the  students  are  from  the  best  families,  and  represent 
every  part  of  the  State,  and  some  from  other  States. 

The  courses  of  study  embrace  the  Normal  Prepar 
atory,  Academic,  Theological,  and  Industrial. 

About  twenty  acres  of  land  near  the  school   are 


Among  Colored  People.  53 

rented  at  moderate  cost,  making  in  all  about  twenty- 
five  acres  cultivated  by  the  students  under  the  direc 
tion  of  a  competent  professor. 

The  religious  character  of  the  school  is  a  marked 
feature. 

PROF.  H.  B.  LAWRENCE. 

Prof.  Lawrence,  of  Massachusetts,  served  as  pres 
ident  during  the  school  year  1890-1891.  Rev.  M. 
W.  Gilbert  was  appointed  to  succeed  him  in  1891. 
His  administration  lasted  one  year.  This  year  (1896), 
for  the  first  time,  the  entire  faculty  is  colored. 

October  I,  1892,  Rev.  G.  P.  McKinney  was 
appointed  president,  and  now  serves  his  fourth  year. 

The  school  is  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  the  col 
ored  Baptists  of  Florida.  This  is  evidenced  by  the 
large  and  liberal  contributions  they  make  annually 
for  its  support. 

REV.    GEO.    P.    MCKINNEY. 

In  May  of  1892,  Rev.  George  P.  McKinney  was 
called  upon  to  take  the  presidency  of  this  institution, 
the  same  school  in  which  he  began  his  student  life 
ten  years  previous. 

As  president  of  Florida  Institute,  pastor  of  the 
African  Baptist  Church,  president  of  Florida  Baptist 
Congress,  corresponding  secretary  State  Convention, 
vice-president  State  Teachers'  Association,  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Sunday-school  State  Convention, 
he  has  indicated  his  fitness  and  ability. 

His  field  of  labor  is  the  State  of  Florida,  and  as  a. 


54  Evidences  of  Progress 

bold  defendant  of  truth,  virtue  and  morality,  he  feels 
himself  specially  appointed  to  attack  the  wrong 
wherever  it  is  found.  By  his  bold  and  unmitigating 
attacks  he  does  not  always  receive  compliments 


REV.  GEO.  P.  McKINNEY. 

from  the  assaulted.  He  teaches  the  young  men 
under  his  care  to  stand  by  the  right  even  though  you 
be  left  alone  in  doing  so.  In  giving  this  advice  to 
his  students,  with  a  serious  look  into  the  future,  zeal- 
ous  that  they  should  rise  up  and  bless  the  world,  his 


Among  Colored  People.  55 

profound  earnestness  discloses  the  fact  that  he  is  a 
man  who  knows  what  he  wants  and  goes  straight  to 
his  goal. 

STATE   UNIVERSITY. 

The  State  University  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  is  the 
oldest,  largest  and  most  influential  institution  in 
the  State  owned  and  operated  by  the  colored  people. 

This  institution  is  the  outcome  of  a  general  discus 
sion  which  followed  the  close  of  the  war,  among  the 
colored  people,  as  to  the  best  means  of  elevating  the 
race  and  teaching  true  citizenship.  In  these  discus 
sions  the  Baptists  were  foremost,  and  took  the  first 
steps  looking  forward  to  bringing  about  some  of  the 
wise  suggestions  made  by  those  who  had  spent  their 
lives  as  slaves  and  had  just  been  given  the  rights  of 
American  citizens  by  the  Emancipation  Proclamation 
of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

A  call  for  a  convention  issued  by  the  leading 
Baptist  ministers  to  be  held  in  August,  1865,  at  the 
Fifth  Street  Baptist  Church,  Louisville,  Ky.,  was 
responded  to  by  a  large  delegation. 

Annual  meetings  were  held    at    such    times    and 

o 

places  as  agreed  upon  by  each  annual  gathering.  In 
1869,  the  necessity  for  fostering  an  institution  where 
colored  men  and  women  could  obtain  a  Christian 
education  was  brought  up  and  practical  steps  were 
taken  to  perfect  the  organization. 

The  session  held  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  made  applica 
tion  to  the  State  Legislature  for  a  charter.  This 
petition  was  granted  by  a  charter  to  the  General  Asso- 


56  Evidences  of  Progress 

elation  of  Colored  Baptists,  authorizing  them  to  estab 
lish  a  school  in  the  State. 

The  purchase  of  ground  and  the  erection  of  an 
edifice  was  the  next  thing  to  receive  attention. 
Subscriptions  were  taken  by  the  leaders,  and  collec 
tions  raised  in  all  the  churches.  It  resulted  in  Old 
Fort  Hill  at  Frankfort  being  purchased,  but  it  was 
found  that  it  could  not  be  utilized  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  bought,  and  it  was  sold. 

Contributions  were  raised,  the  trustees  were  kept 
busy  looking  out  for  another  site,  a  few  young  and 
active  men  were  members  of  the  Board  and  rendered 
good  service.  Among  them  was  William  H. 
Steward,  who  was  employed  in  the  Louisville  post- 
office  as  carrier,  and  a  representative  of  his  race. 

In  February,  1879,  the  school  was  opened  by 
Rev.  E.  P.  Marrs,  with  his  brother,  H.  C.  Marrs,  as 
assistant,  and  the  attendance  was  large.  Mr.  Stew 
ard  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
Thus  the  work  progressed  and  students  came  in 
from  all  parts  of  the  State.  At  the  close  of  the  first 
year  the  work  looked  encouraging. 

William  H.  Steward  is  termed  the  pioneer  of 
colored  Baptists  in  Kentucky.  This  distinction  he 
has  won  by  personal  attention  to  the  religious  and 
educational  work.  In  order  that  the  new  institution 
meet  with  success,  he  has  given  hundreds  of  dollars 
at  a  time  to  assist  in  prosecuting  the  work  of  this 
University. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Steward,  the  State 
University  is  the  great  institution  that  it  is  to-day. 


Among  Colored  People.  57 

It  was  through  his  efforts  that  the  services  of  the  late 
Rev.  William  J.  Simmons,  D.  D.,  as  president  of  the 
institution,  and  also  that  the  present  president,  Rev. 
Charles  L.  Puree,  D.  D.,  were  secured. 

The  faculty  of  State  University  is  composed  of 
some  of  the  best  educated  men  and  women  of  the 
country.  It  consists  of  Rev.  C.  L.  Puree,  D.  D., 
President,  Theology  and  Philosophy;  Prof.  R.  S. 
Wilkinson,  A.  M.,  Languages  and  Political  Science  ; 
Prof.  W.  H.  Huffman,  A.  B.,  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Sciences  ;  Prof.  A.  G.  Gilbert,  M.  D.,  Eng 
lish  and  Hygienic  Science ;  Prof.  L.  M.  Seeley, 
English  and  History ;  Prof.  L.  V.  Jones,  English 
and  Cognate  Branches ;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Steward,  Music ; 
Mrs.  F.  R.  Givens,  Art ;  Mrs.  M.  B.  Wallace,  Matron. 

This  institution  is  well  supported  by  the  colored 
people  of  the  State  and  its  work  is  deserving  of 
high  praise, 

REV.    CHARLES    L.    PURGE,  A.  B.,  D.  D. 

Dr.  Puree  is  one  of  the  best  known  educators  in 
this  country.  He  was  for  ten  years  president  of  the 
Selma  University,  located  at  Selma,  Ala.  He  ac 
cepted  the  presidency  in  1894,  and  has  done  good 
work  for  the  elevation  of  the  denomination. 

He  succeeded  in  paying  off  the  debt  of  Selma 
University  of  $8,OOO,  and  by  his  pluck  and  persever 
ance  he  made  many  additions  to  the  school  and  im 
proved  the  system  of  education  in  it.  He  is  a  man 
of  good  common  sense  as  well  as  of  high  mental 
attainments.  He  never  allows  himself  to  suffer  defeat 


58  Evidences  of  Progress 

under  any  circumstances.  As  a  leader  among  the 
colored  people,  he  is  highly  esteemed  and  acknowl 
edged. 

The  following  letter  from  Mrs.  M.  C.  Reynolds, 


REV.  CHARLES  L.  PURGE,  A.  B.,  D.  D., 

President  of  State  University,  Louisville,  Ky. 

corresponding  secretary  of  the  New  England  Wo 
men's  Home  Mission  Society,  of  Boston,  Mass., 
will  show  in  what  light  Dr.  Puree  is  regarded  by 
noble  white  people  in  the  North  : 

"  Dr.  Puree  is  highly  esteemed  by  me.     I  visited  his 


Among-  Colored  People.  59 

work,  in  Selma,  Ala.,  and  I  liked  him  very  much. 
He  is  one  of  the  few  colored  men  who  now  are 
fitted  to  lead.  So  many  are  impetuous,  sensitive, 
not  well  balanced.  So  many  fail  to  see  that  it  takes 
time  to  bring  order  out  of  this  race  chaos.  Patience 
is  what  is  needed.  Some  have  it,  some  have  it  not. 
Some  are  far-sighted  and  are  willing  to  bide  God's 
time ;  these  are  the  leaders." 

The  corps  of  competent  instructors  under  Dr. 
Puree  at  State  University  are  busily  engaged  daily  in 
the  theological,  college,  normal,  grammar,  art,  music, 
sewing  and  printing  departments,  preparing  young 
men  and  young  women  for  future  usefulness. 

Never  before  in  the  history  of  Kentucky  were  there 
so  many  boys  and  girls,  men  and  women,  striving  to 
get  an  education.  And  this  desire  has  been  inspired 
by  the  noble  life  and  character  of  Rev.  C.  L.  Puree. 

WALKER    BAPTIST    INSTITUTE. 

Walker  Institute  was  founded  at  Augusta,  Ga.  In 
corporated  in  1885.  Teachers  employed  are  all  col 
ored.  The  school  has  an  average  attendance  of  over 
one  hundred.  This  institution  takes  its  name  from 
the  Walker  Baptist  Association  under  whose  auspices 
it  exists.  For  the  last  few  years  the  work  has  made 
rapid  strides  forward,  winning  the  patronage  of  Bap 
tists  in  both  the  city  and  adjoining  counties.  Two 
classes  have  graduated,  and  the  young  people  are 
leading  useful  lives  as  teachers  and  preachers.  The 
Walker  Baptist  Institute  aims  at  Christian  education 
and  the  perpetuity  of  the  church  which  gave  it  birth, 


60  Evidences  of  Progress 

It  aims  at  the  highest  good  of  man  at  home  and 
abroad.  Its  course  of  study  is  academic,  and,  since 
this  is  the  golden  mean  between  the  common  school 
and  the  higher  and  professional  institutions  of  learn 
ing,  it  aims  at  a  happy  combination  of  quality  and 
quantity.  Its  management  is  in  hearty  accord  with 
higher  training  as  the  shortest  and  safest  route  to 
successful  leadership  in  literary  or  professional  life. 
The  main  support  of  this  work  is  derived  from  the 
following  organizations  for  stated  purposes :  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  Walker 
Baptist  Association,  the  Home  Board  of  the  South 
ern  Baptist  Convention ;  while  a  small  part  of  the 
current  expense  is  met  by  tuition  fees  and  subscrip 
tions  by  a  few  friends. 

PROF.    N.    W.    CURTVVRIGHT,    A.  B. 

Prof.  N.  W.  Curtwright,  principal  of  Walker  Bap 
tist  Institute,  is  a  native  of  Georgia.  He  had  but  very 
little  time  in  his  younger  life  that  he  could  devote  to 
his  education.  But  being  by  nature  a  close  student 
made  the  most  of  what  time  he  did  have  to  attend 
school.  In  1888  he  received  his  first  certificate  to 
teach  in  the  public  schools  of  his  State.  In  1889 
he  entered  the  junior  preparatory  class  of  Atlanta 
University  at  Atlanta,  Ga.  During  his  seven  years' 
course  in  this  school  he  was  regarded  as  a  very  hard 
and  energetic  student  and  made  rapid  progress  in 
his  studies.  When  he  graduated  in  1896  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  his  class  at  commencement. 
Immediately  after  graduation  he  was  called  to  the 
chair  of  Latin  and  Greek  at  Haine's  Normal  and 


Among  Colored  People.  6 1 

Industrial  Institute  at  Augusta,  Ga.  He  served  in 
this  position  one  year  and  part  of  the  second  year, 
when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  principalship  of  Eddy 
High  School  at  Milledgeville,  Ga.  At  the  close  of 


PROF.    N.    W.    GURTWF.IGHT,    A.  B. 


the  year  was  re-elected.  But  on  the  same  day  was 
elected  as  principal  of  Walker  Baptist  Institute,  which 
position  he  had  never  in  any  way  sought.  We  feel 
that  the  trustees  have  made  no  mistake  in  placing 
Prof.  Curtwrisfht  at  the  head  of  this  institution. 


62  Evidences  of  Progress 

COLEMAN     ACADEMY. 

Coleman  Academy  was  founded  at  Gibsland,  La., 
and  incorporated  in  1 887.  The  teachers  employed  are 
all  colored,  and  there  are  six  in  number.  This  insti 
tution  was  founded  by  Prof.  O.  L.  Coleman,  who  saw 
the  need  of  such  a  school  in  north  Louisiana,  as  there 
was  a  wide  scope  of  country  where  there  had  never 
been  a  high  school  for  colored  people.  The  school 
was  first  opened  in  a  church  building  in  Gibsland, 
La.,  in  1887,  with  only  ten  pupils.  The  school  has 
grown  rapidly,  and  during  the  first  five  years  of  its 
history  but  little  money  was  received  by  the  princi 
pal  or  teachers,  as  they  allowed  their  salary  to  go 
toward  building  better  and  more  suitable  buildings 
for  their  purpose.  The  institution  has  six  depart 
ments,  and  a  full  and  competent  faculty.  An  indus 
trial  and  ministerial  department  were  added  in  1897. 
The  school  has  an  enrollment  of  over  200  from  some 
four  different  States.  Ten  acres  of  land,  three  large 
two-story  buildings,  one  kitchen  laundry  building, 
and  a  new  barn  constitute  the  property  of  the  insti 
tution. 

PROF.    O.    L.    COLEMAN,    A.  M. 

Prof.  O.  L.  Coleman  is  a  native  of  Livingston, 
Miss.  He  first  attended  the  public  school  of  that 
town.  He  afterwards  went  to  Alcorn  College,  then 
Alcorn  University.  He  also  attended  school  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  At  that  time  he  thought  of  read 
ing  medicine,  but  gave  that  up  to  devote  his  life  as  a 
teacher.  He  took  a  course  at  Chautauqua  University, 
New  York,  of  four  years  in  the  study  of  classics, 
elocution,  and  pedagogy 


Among  Colored  People. 


PROF.    O     L.    COLKlVfAN,    A.  M. 

ARKANSAS    BAPTIST   COLLEGE. 

This  school  is  located  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.  It 
was  originated  by  the  colored  Baptists,  in  their 
convention  in  session  at  Hot  Springs,  August, 
1884.  In  the  following  autumn,  school  was  begun 
and  operated  as  "  The  Baptist  Institute,"  using  the 
Mt.  Zion  house  of  worship  in  this  city  as  its  first 
schoolroom.  In  1885  Mt.  Pleasant  house  of  worship 
was  secured.  In  that  same  year,  with  the  aid  of 


64  Evidences  of  Progress 

Rev.  Harry  Woodsmall,  articles  of  association  were 
drawn  up,  and  the  Institute  was  legally  organized 
and  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State,  and 
known  henceforth  as  the  Arkansas  Baptist  College, 
with  capital  stock  of  $50,000,  divided  up  into  shares 
of  $50  each,  payable  in  instalments  of  $10  a  year. 

While  the  "  Pastors'  Course  "  was  the  most  promi 
nent  feature  of  the  school  to  begin  with,  this  served 
as  a  nucleus  around  which  popular  interest  collected 
and  grew,  and  as  fast  as  possible  Literary  Courses  of 
study  were  developed  and  taught,  and  students  from 
different  parts  of  the  State  increased  in  attendance 
every  year,  until  now  the  institution  has  grown  in 
numbers,  work  and  workers,  to  a  very  favorable  com 
parison  with  other  colleges  in  the  South. 

The  spirit  of  the  school  is  decidedly  of  a  missionary 
nature.  It  was  established,  more  than  for  anything 
else,  to  aid  teachers  and  preachers  in  a  higher  fitness 
for  their  work.  Indeed,  it  .aims  to  specially  train 
preachers  and  teachers  on  moral  questions,  religious 
obligations  and  spiritual  work.  But  it  also  aims  to 
give  liberal  education  in  those  branches  of  science, 
arts,  literature  and  language  commonly  taught  in 
American  colleges,  and  to  give  practical  training  in 
the  industrial  and  business  features  of  lifework..  It 
is  quite  unpretentious  in  all  its  work,  aiming  to  be, 
rather  than  to  seem. 

The  school  owns  one  block,  in  the  southwest  part 
of  the  city.  This  property  was  bought  by  the  colored 
people  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  The  site  is  high  and  desir 
able,  overlooking  its  surroundings  in  every  direction. 


Among  Colored  People. 


PROF.  J.  A.  BOOKER,  A.  M. 

Rev.  Joseph  A.  Booker  is  the  president  of  this 
school,  and  his  services  are  highly  appreciated  by  the 
citizens  of  the  State. 


PROF.  J.  A.  BOOKER,  A.  M. 

WATERS'  NORMAL  INSTITUTE. 

Waters'  Normal  Institute,  located  at  Winton,  N.  C, 
was  incorporated  in  1887.  Rev.  C.  S.  Brown  is  its 
principal.  Four  colored  teachers  are  employed  in 
this  school  and  excellent  work  is  being;  done.  Rev. 


66 


Evidences  of  Progress 


Brown  has,  by  energy  and  determination,  built  up 
this  work,  and  as  some  of  the  evidences  of  the  thor 
oughness  of  the  instruction  given,  a  large  number  of 
teachers,  holding  first  grade  certificates  have  gone 
out  of  this  school  to  teach  in  the  public  schools  of 
Hertford  and  adjacent  counties.  The  Baptists  in 


WATERS'  NORMAL  INSTITUTE. 

Eastern  North  Carolina  appreciate  his  executive 
ability  and  they  render  him  hearty  support  in  his 
enterprise. 

REV.    CALVIN   S.    BROWN,    A.  B. 

Rev.  C.  S.  Brown  is  an  interesting  character.  He 
was  born  of  slave  parents.  He  became  a  teacher  in 
one  of  the  public  schools  of  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  having  stood  an  examination  before 
the  school  board  of  that  city  and  received  a  first  grade 


Among  Colored  People. 


67 


certificate.  In  1880  he  entered  Shaw  University  for 
the  purpose  of  studying  theology.  Six  years  later 
he  graduated  and  was  valedictorian  of  his  class.  He 
is  not  only  an  active  man  as  the  principal  of  the 
Waters'  Normal  Institute,  but  is  the  successful  pastor 


REV.  CALVIN  S.  BROWN,  A.  B. 

of  a  large  Baptist  church  at  Pleasant  Plains,  in  Hert 
ford  county,  near  Winton,  N.  C.  At  one  time  he 
held  four  churches  with  an  aggregate  membership 
of  2,500.  For  some  years  he  was  the  editor  of  The 
Baptist  Pilot,  secretary  of  the  State  Ministerial  Asso- 


68  Evidences  of  Progress 

elation  and  secretary  of  the  State  Baptist  Associa 
tion. 

SELMA  UNIVERSITY. 

This  institution  is  located  in  the  suburbs  of 
Selma,  Alabama,  on  what  was  known  as  the  agricul 
tural  fair  grounds.  The  property  was  bought  in 
1878,  comprising  thirty-six  acres  of  land  with  one 
small  building,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  Not  only  did 
the  colored  people  of  the  State  pay  for  this,  but  pro 
ceeded  to  make  improvements,  and  at  the  same  time 
gave  money  for  the  support  of  the  school.  The 
property  is  now  valued  at  $15,000. 

Rev,  R.  T.  Pollard  is  now  president  of  Selma  Uni 
versity.  He  succeeds  the  late  Rev.  C.  S.  Dinkins. 

HEARNE    ACADEMY. 

Hearne  Academy,  at  Hearne,  Texas,  is  one  of  the 
best  institutions  of  the  kind  in  the  State.  The 
colored  people  contribute  $2,405  toward  the  support 
of  this  school  yearly,  and  while  the  enrolment  of 
students  only  numbers  76  for  1896,  the  influence  of 
the  school  is  felt  throughout  the  entire  State.  Rev. 
J.  F.  Anderson  is  principal.  Five  colored  teachers 
are  employed.  Rev.  Anderson  will  push  the  work  at 
Hearne  in  a  faithful  and  vigorous  manner  which  will 
bring  to  the  institution  both  friends  and  success. 

NATCHEZ    COLLEGE. 

Natchez  College  is  located  at  Natchez,  Miss.  This 
school  is  one  of  very  great  interest,  and  one  that  the 
colored  people  are  very  proud  of,  from  the  fact  that 


Among  Colored  People. 


the  support  of  this  institution  comes  entirely  from 
the  colored  Baptists  of  the  State.  The  school  is  at 
tended  by  about  two  hundred  students,  mostly 
from  the  State  of  Mississippi.  Prof.  S.  H.  C.  Owen, 
president. 

PROF.  S.  H.  C.  OWEN,  A.  M. 

Prof.    Samuel    Henry    Clay   Owen,   president    of 


PROF.  S.  H.  C.  OWEN,  A.  M. 


Natchez  College,  was  born  at  Durhamville,  Tenn., 
March  6,  1856.     He  is  a  graduate  of  Roger  Williams 


70  Evidences  of  Progress 

University.  Prof.  Owen  has  been  twice  elected  presi 
dent  of  the  Natchez  College.  He  is  doing  a  most 
excellent  work  there  and  has  made  the  school  one 
of  the  leading  institutions  of  the  South, 

JERUEL   ACADEMY. 

Jeruel  Academy,  located  at  Athens,  Ga.,  is  a  small 
school,  but  it  is  doing  a  splendid  work.  Rev.  J.  H. 
Brown  is  its  principal.  There  are  upward  of  sixty 
young  men  and  women  in  regular  attendance. 

HOWE    INSTITUTE. 

Howe  Institute,  at  New  Iberia,  La.,  was  estab 
lished  in  1888;  Rev.  E.  N.  Smith,  principal.  Con 
sidering  the  many  disadvantages  of  the  locality,  the 
school  has  done  remarkably  well.  Rev.  Mr.  Smith 
is  aided  by  three  colored  teachers. 

SPILLER    ACADEMY. 

Spiller  Academy,  located  at  Hampton,  Va.,  was 
founded  by  Rev.  R.  Spiller,  and  in  1897  became  af 
filiated  with  the  Virginia  Union  University;  Rev.  G. 
E.  Read,  principal,  1898;  colored  teachers,  4.  Rev. 
Spiller,  the  founder  of  this  institution,  has  been  for 
years  one  of  the  most  prominent  Baptist  pastors  in 
Virginia. 

FLORIDA    BAPTIST    ACADEMY. 

This  school  is  located  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.  It  was 
incorporated  in  1892.  Prof.  N.  W.  Collier  is  its  prin 
cipal.  There  are  six  colored  teachers  at  work  in  this 
institution,  and  the  reports  from  this  school  are  very 
encouraging.  The  colored  people  in  the  State  con 
tributed  $1,320  toward  its  support  in  1895. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CONGREGATIONAL  SCHOOLS. 

IN  this  chapter,  I  propose  to  set  forth  the  important 
educational  work  carried  on  in  the  South  by  the 
American  Missionary  Association.  This  work  has 
certainly  been  significant,  and  I  can  do  nothing 
better  than  quote  from  Mr.  L.  B.  Moore,  Professor  at 
Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C,  these  words 
on  the  industrial  schools : 

"These  industrial  schools  have  been  sending  to 
the  country  places  and  to  the  small  towns  a  host 
of  young  people  who  have  gone  forth  as  skilled  me 
chanics,  and  they  have  gathered  them  in  from  the 
hills  and  valleys  and  said,  '  Go  and  learn  how  to 
farm  with  improved  implements;  go  and  learn  the 
carpenter's  trade  with  the  best  tools;  learn  painting 
and  shoemaking  and  blacksmithing,  and  carry  the 
knowledge  of  these  things  back  to  the  homes  whence 
you  came.'  They  have  been  teaching  the  dignity  of 
labor. 

"  These  industrial  schools  have  also  been  teaching 
the  value  of  free  labor.  The  South  is  just  waking 
up  to  see  what  it  has  lost  by  slavery.  If  the  white 
man  of  the  South  had  been  as  shrewd  as  the  white 
man  of  the  East  was,  he  would  not  now  be  groaning 
in  poverty  and  saying,  '  We  would  like  to  help  in 
this  work,  but  we  are  so  poor.' 

C7O 


72  Evidences  of  Progress 

"  The  colleges  of  this  Association  are  sending  out 
leaders  for  the  people,  and  oh,  how  my  people  need 
leaders !  I  can  take  you  to  places  where  the  blind 
are  leading  the  blind,  and  they  are  both  falling  into 
the  ditch  together.  How  important  it  is  that  there 
should  be  leaders  among  this  people  to  instruct  and 
help  them!  These  colleges  have  sent  forth  1,000 
college-bred  men  who  are  going  to  teach  that  peo 
ple;  and  I  tell  you  the  time  is  coming  vvhen  that 
thousand  will  be  increased  by  another  thousand,  and 
the  ignorant  and  ofttimes  immoral  leaders  will  have 
to  give  way  before  the  light  which  is  now  rising. 

"  Now,  why  ought  this  work  to  be  sustained  ? 
The  first  reason  is,  it  pays,  and  that  is  the  business 
reason.  When  a  man  invests  money  he  wants  to 
know  whether  it  is  going  to  yield  him  a  large  in 
come.  Can  you  show  me  a  work  that  has  brought 
a  larger  income  than  the  work  of  the  American 
Missionary  Association  ?  Can  you  show  me  a  peo 
ple  in  all  history  that  has  made  the  progress  which 
has  been  made  by  the  black  people  in  the  South 
according  to  your  own  testimony  and  the  testimony 
of  white  men  in  the  South  ? 

"  Then  there  is  another  thing :  this  work  is  but 
justice.  It  is  but  just  to  the  slave  who  toiled  for 
250  years  and  accumulated  the  wealth  of  this  nation. 
The  white  man  and  the  colored  man  were  in  partner 
ship  together  for  250  years — John  Smith  &  Co.:  but- 
when  the  dividends  were  declared,  John  Smith  got 
them  all  and  the  poor  colored  man  has  yet  to  get  a 


Among  Colored  People. 


73 


settlement.     So  he  is  just  asking  for  a  share  in  the 
dividends." 

FISK    UNIVERSITY. 

Fisk  University  is  located  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Merrill,  D.  D.,  is  the  president. 

The  work  of  founding  Fisk  University  was  begun 
in  October,  1865,  by  the  purchase  of  a  half  square  of 
ground  in  Nashville  and  securing  the  large  Govern- 


THEOLOGICAL  HAUL 

FISK    UNIVERSITY,    NASHVILLE,   TENN. 

ment  hospital  that  had  been  erected  during  the  war. 
The  Fisk  School  was  opened  January  6,  1 866,  and 
the  attendance  for  the  first  year  was  over  1,000. 
There  were  then  no  public  schools  in  Nashville  for 
colored  children. 

The  charter  for  the  incorporation  of  the  University 
under  the  laws  of  Tennessee  was  secured  August  22, 
1867. 


74  Evidences  of  Progress 

The  Jubilee  Singers  were  sent  forth  to  raise 
money  for  the  University  October  6,  1871.  The  net 
result  of  their  campaign  was  $i  50,000  in  money, 
besides  valuable  apparatus,  books  for  the  library,  and 
several  valuable  portraits.  This  success  led  to  the 
establishment  of  the  University  on  its  present  most 
beautiful  and  commanding  site,  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  north-west  of  the  State  capital. 

The  University  has  in  successful  operation  the 
following  departments : 

1.  The  Common  English,  which  has  been  main 
tained  to  meet  a  continued  need  on  the  part  of  many 
of  the  patrons  of  the  University. 

2.  The    Normal,   which    has   a    course    of    study 
extending  over  four  years,  beginning  with  Latin  and 
Algebra. 

3.  The  College  Preparatory,  which  has  a  course 
of  study  extending  over  three  years,  beginning  with 
Latin  and  Algebra,  and  requiring  two  years  of  Greek. 

4.  The  College,  which  has  a  four  years  course  of 
study  additional   to    that   provided   in    the   College 
Preparatory  course. 

5.  Department  of  Music,  with  an  extended  course 
in    both     instrumental     music    and    voice    culture. 
There  are  150  pupils  in  this  department.     In  addi 
tion,  vocal  music  is  taught  throughout  all  the  courses 
of  study.     The  Mozart  Society  studies  and  renders 
the  classics  in  music. 

6.  Industrial.     Printing  and  Carpentry  are  taught 
to  young  men.     The  young  women  are  instructed 
in  Nursing,  Cooking  and  Sewing. 


Among  Colored  People.  75 

7.  Theological.  For  the  use  of  this  Department 
the  Theological  Hall,  represented  in  the  cut  on  page 
73,  has  been  erected.  The  course  of  study  extends 
over  three  years. 

The  University  has  a  campus  of  thirty-five  acres 
with  buildings  and  other  appliances  for  its  educa 
tional  work,  which  could  not  be  replaced  for 
$350,000.  Number  of  officers  and  teachers,  thirty. 
Number  of  students  last  year,  478,  representing 
twenty-three  States  and  Territories. 

The  constant  aim  in  Fisk  University  has  been  to 
build  up  a  great  central  institution  for  the  higher 
education  of  colored  youth  of  both  sexes.  The 
faculty  and  trustees  have  held  undeviatingly  to  this 
purpose  and  the  result  is  that  Fisk  offers  unusual 
advantages  to  those  who  are  seeking  earnestly  for  a 
thorough  education. 

For  healthfulness  and  beauty  of  location,  in  build 
ings  and  apparatus,  the  University  is  justly  ranked 
as  foremost. 

Already  291  have  been  graduated  from  the  Col 
lege  and  Normal  Departments.  The  Theological 
Department,  though  the  last  established,  offers  ex 
cellent  facilities  to  those  who  wish  to  prepare  them 
selves  for  the  Christian  ministry. 

The  Department  of  Music  numbers  over  one  hun 
dred  and  offers  superior  advantages  for  the  study  of 
piano-forte,  organ  and  voice  culture. 

TALLADEGA  COLLEGE. 

This    institution   was    founded    in     1867  by  the 


76  Evidences  of  Progress 

American  Missionary  Association  at  Talladega,  Ala.s 
and  incorporated  for  the  purpose  of  affording  "  facili 
ties  for  the  education  and  training  of  youth,  from 
which  no  one  shall  be  debarred  on  account  of  race 
or  color." 

It  is  easily  accessible  from  all  parts  of  the  State, 
and  is  so  far  removed  from  the  great  cotton  belt  as 
to  escape  the  more  intense  heat  and  malaria  of  that 
region.  The  buildings,  shaded  by  trees,  stand  on 
high  ground,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  village  of 
Talladega. 

In  the  vicinity  of  coal  fields,  surrounded  by  hills 
filled  with  iron,  in  the  midst  of  a  rapidly  increasing 
population,  with  clear  air  and  pure  water,  Talladega 
College  is  not  surpassed  in  advantages  of  location 
and  beauty  of  scenery  by  any  institution  in  the 
South. 

The  departments  of  study  are  Theological,  College 
Preparatory,  Normal,  Grammar  and  lower  grades, 
Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music. 

The  industries  are  Agriculture,  Architectural  Draw 
ing,  Carpentry,  Cooking,  Housekeeping,  Nursing, 
Printing,  Sewing.  There  are  twenty-four  instructors 
and  officers.  Over  500  pupils  in  annual  attendance, 
representing  most  of  the  Southern  States. 

Graduates  from  various  departments  of  the  College 
are  occupying  prominent  positions  as  pastors  and 
teachers,  or  in  business.  Seven  mission  Sunday 
schools  in  the  vicinity  of  Talladega,  enrolling  350 
pupils,  are  maintained  by  students  during  term  time. 
At  least  3,000  pupils  are  in  attendance  upon  the 


Among  Colored  People.  77 

country  district  schools  in  charge  of  undergraduates. 
An  institute  for  the  farmers  of  the  county  is  statedly 
held  under  Collegiate  auspices  and  annual  meetings 
of  several  days'  length  are  conducted  in  three  or 
four  of  the  counties  of  the  State  for  the  benefit  of 
teachers.  In  these  and  similar  ways  the  College  is 
proving  itself  a  mighty  and  growing  force  in  pro 
moting  the  physical,  intellectual  and  moral  welfare 
of  the  people. 

From  numerous  testimonials  concerning  the  worth 
and  work  of  the  College,  the  following  are  here 
given.  The  County  Superintendent  of  Education 
writes : 

"  I  have  a  favorable  opportunity  of  knowing  the 
thoroughness  with  which  your  students  are  taught. 
Many  of  the  undergraduates  have  applied  to  me  for 
certificates  of  qualification  to  teach  in  the  public 
schools.  They  show  that  they  have  been  success 
fully  instructed  in  both  manners  and  matter.  It  is 
quite  observable  that  the  influence  of  the  College  is 
seen  and  felt  by  both  races ;  and  I  cheerfully  recom 
mend  it  to  all  lovers  of  fallen  humanity." 

An  editorial  in  the  Mountain  Home,  the  principal 
paper  in  the  county,  makes  this  statement:  "In  two 
particulars  we  had  the  same  impression  in  all  cases, 
namely:  that  the  teachers  are  thoroughly  equipped 
in  all  that  constitutes  efficiency  as  instructors,  and 
that  the  students  showed  remarkable  proficiency  in 
their  studies." 

Rev.  G.  A.  Lofton,  D.  D.,  in  writing  to  the  New 
York  Examiner y  says :  "It  would  be  impossible  to  tell 


78  Evidences  of  Progress 

the  moral  effect  of  this  school  as  immediately  felt 
upon  this  section  of  the  State.  Especially  does  itlay 
an  excellent  moral  foundation  upon  which  the  stu 
dents  build  character ;  and  culture  and  refinement  in 
all  directions  are  everywhere  manifest." 

TOUGALOO    UNIVERSITY. 

This  institution  is  located  in  the  beautiful  little 
village  of  Tougaloo,  in  the  very  middle  of  the  State 
of  Mississippi,  a  few  miles  from  Jackson,  the  capital. 
It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  Black  Belt,  where  the  colored 
people  outnumber  the  whites.  The  standards  in 
this  school  are  very  good,  while  the  teaching  is 
especially  excellent. 

Rev.  Frank  G.  Woodworth,  D.  D.,  is  its  president 
The  number  of  pupils  in  all  the  departments  of  this 
institution  for  1896  was  upwards  of  400. 

Industrial  education  is  thoroughly  graded  and  ably 
taught.  Students  are  not  only  made  familiar  with 
the  use  of  tools,  but  are  required  to  make  out 
bills  of  material,  working  plans,  plans  for  construc 
tion,  etc.,  and  to  execute  them  intelligently.  In  agri 
culture,  the  plantation  of  Tougaloo  comprises  640 
acres,  and  about  150  acres  are  under  excellent  culti 
vation,  and  pupils  are  practically  taught  the  care  of 
cattle,  horses,  and  mules,  plowing  and  planting,  culti 
vation  of  crops,  gardening,  fruit-culture,  steam-sawing 
and  the  like.  In  nurse-training  this  school  has  had 
special  advantages.  Instruction  is  daily  given  in 
nursing  and  hygiene,  with  a  special  course  of  two 
years  for  those  who  desire  to  make  nursing  the  sick  a 


Among  Colored  People. 


79 


profession.     The  course  in   cooking,  and   in  sewing 
and  dressmaking,  is  excellent. 


HOWARD    UNIVERSITY. 


This  institution  was  established  by  the  friends  of 
the  freedmen — especially  through  the  instrumentality 
of  the  distinguished  soldier  whose  name  it  bears,  and 
whose  spirit  its  teachers  seek  to  emulate— imme- 


HOWARD    UNIVERSITY. 


diately  after  the  war.  It  has  always  welcomed  all 
nationalities  alike.  Its  work  of  years  is  now  before 
the  country.  Every  year  the  Trustees  seek  to  enlarge 
its  scope  and  fit  it  for  greater  usefulness.  Important 
additions  have  lately  been  made  to  its  teaching  force, 
and  to  its  literary  and  scientific  appliances. 

The  institution  occupies  an  elevated  and  beautiful 
site  at  the  northern  edge  of  the  city  of  Washington, 
on  a  twenty-acre  campus,  fronting  a  park  of  ten  acres, 


80  Evidences  of  Progress 

and  having  the  Reservoir  Lake  immediately  adjacent 
on  the  east.  The  University  edifice,  four  stories  in 
height,  contains  recitation  and  lecture  rooms,  chapel, 
library,  and  laboratory  rooms,  museum,  and  offices. 
The  Medical  Building  is  on  the  south  of  the  Park, 
and  the  Law  Building  is  on  the  west  side  of 
Judiciary  Square.  Miner  Hall,  presided  over  by  the 
Matron  and  Preceptress,  is  set  apart  for  young  lady 
students.  Clark  Hall  is  for  young  men.  Spaulding 
Industrial  Hall  (named  after  Martha  Spaulding,  of 
Lowell,  Mass.)  is  devoted  to  instruction  in  various 
trades. 

Rev.  John  Gordon,  D.  D.,  is  the  president;  Mr. 
George  H.  Sofford,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
work  at  Howard  University  is  thorough  and  sys 
tematic.  A  great  many  applicants  are  refused  admis 
sion  to  this  institution  from  year  to  year,  because 
they  cannot  meet  the  necessary  requirements.  How 
ard  graduates  are  usually  regarded  as  thoroughly- 
equipped  men  and  women. 

TILLOTSON  COLLEGE. 

This  institution  is  located  at  Austin,  Tex.;  Mar 
shall  R.  Gaines,  President.  It  was  established  by 
the  American  Missionary  Association,  and  is  main 
tained  under  its  supervision.  It  was  opened  to 
students  in  January,  1881.  The  Institute  was  named 
in  honor  of  the  late  Rev.  George  J.  Tillotson,  of 
Wethersfield,  Conn.,  whose  generous  contributions 
and  earnest  efforts  were  greatly  instrumental  in 
purchasing  the  lot  and  erecting  Allen  Hall.  It  has 


Among  Colored  People.  8 1 

enjoyed  a  steady  growth  in  the  public  confidence 
from  the  first. 

During  the  present  year  a  new  charter  has  been 
granted  and  the  name  changed  to  Tillotson  College. 

There  are  two  entirely  separate  buildings,  especially 
designed  and  erected  as  dormitories,  and  for  school 
purposes.  These  will  accommodate,  without  crowd 
ing,  125  students,  besides  the  rooms  for  members  of 
the  faculty.  The  boys  and  girls  are,  therefore,  in 
different  buildings.  The  boarding  department  is  in 
the  girls'  hall,  600  feet  north  of  Allen  Hall. 

The  object  of  the  College  is  to  furnish  an  oppor 
tunity  to  acquire  a  thoroughly  practical  common- 
school  education;  to  prepare  those  who  propose  to 
take  a  more  extended  course  for  entrance  to  the 
highest  educational  institutions  of  the  land;  to  train 
teachers  for  all  positions  in  the  public  schools.  It 
is  a  Christian  institution,  conducted  in  the  belief 
that  Christian  faith  is  the  true  source  of  the  highest 
culture. 

STRAIGHT    UNIVERSITY. 

Straight  University  is  located  at  New  Orleans,  La. ; 
Oscar  Atwood,  A.  M.,  President.  The  first  building 
for  this  school  was  erected  by  the  United  States 
Government  about  three  years  after  the  war,  upon 
land  purchased  by  the  American  Missionary  Asso 
ciation. 

The  history  of  the  University  is  a  record  of  steady 

growth  and  expanding  influence.     It  was  the  pioneer 

school   in   this  section  of  the  South,  in  offering  the 

recently   emancipated    race    the    opportunity  for    an 

6 


82  Evidences  of  Progress 

education  leavened  with  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel — -an 
opportunity  of  which,  from  the  very  first,  they  availed 
themselves  with  grateful  appreciation.  During  all  the 
years  since,  though  not  without  those  trials  which 
have  tested  the  faith  and  devotion  of  her  friends,  her 
progress  has  been  steady  and  salutary,  keeping  pace 
with  the  growing  intelligence  of  the  people,  her 
courses  of  study  being  enlarged  from  time  to  time  to 
meet  their  higher  intellectual  wants,  the  manifest 
fruit,  in  large  part,  of  her  own  faithful  educational 
ministry. 

Thus  her  history  is,  in  some  respects,  the  intellect 
ual  history  of  the  colored  people  in  this  part  of  the 
South,  since  they  received  the  gift  of  freedom,  the 
successive  additions  of  the  Normal,  Collegiate  and 
Theological  Departments  marking  and  measuring 
the  moral  and  intellectual  advancement  of  the  race. 

The  institution  received  its  name  from  Hon.  Sey 
mour  Straight,  of  Hudson,  Ohio,  in  grateful  acknowl 
edgment  of  his  liberal  gifts  and  wise  counsel.  Mr. 
Straight  is  still  the  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees. 

Stone  Hall,  with  the  ground  upon  which  it  stands, 
is  a  fine  monument  to  the  considerate  generosity  of 
Mrs.  Valeria  G.  Stone,  of  Maiden,  Mass.  It  is  a 
dormitory  for  the  girls,  and  the  home  of  the  President 
and  most  of  the  teachers.  Here,  too,  are  the  kitchen 
and  the  cool  and  spacious  dining  room. 

The  general  housekeeping  is  under  the  supervision 
of  an  efficient  matron,  and  an  experienced  and  com 
petent  preceptress  teaches  the  girls  how  to  care  for 


Among  Colored  People.  83 

their  rooms  and  their  health,  and  trains  them  in  the 
manners  of  a  refined,  Christian  home.  In  a  word, 
the  whole  management  of  Stone  Hall,  with  the  con 
stant  inculcation  of  the  principles  of  good  breeding 
by  precept  and  example,  is  an  impressive  object- 
lesson  to  the  students  of  what  constitutes  the  ideal 
Christian  family. 

Whitin  Hall,  a  dormitory  for  boys,  is  a  memorial 
of  the  generosity  of  Hon.  Seymour  Straight  and  the 
late  John  C.  Whitin,  of  Massachusetts.  This  is 
under  the  charge  of  an  accomplished  matron. 

BEACH    INSTITUTE. 

Beach  Institute  is  located  at  Savannah,  Ga. ;  Miss 
M.  L.  Graham,  Principal. 

The  educational  movement  which  finally  took  the 
name  "  Beach  Institute  "  began  thus  : 

Soon  after  the  surrender  of  Savannah  to  General 
Sherman,  educational  work  for  colored  people  was 
begun  under  the  direction  of  an  "  Educational  Com 
mission,"  organized  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Alvord  and  Rev. 
M.  French.  The  first  schools  were  opened  by  Rev. 
W.  F.  Richardson  with  the  aid  of  colored  teachers  in 
the  old  slave  mart  and  the  Styles  building  in  Yama- 
craw. 

Soon  after,  Rev.  S.  W.  Magill,  a  native  of  Georgia 
and  agent  of  the  American  Missionary  Association  in 
Connecticut,  came  from  the  North  with  a  corps  of 
competent  teachers  and  opened  a  school  in  the  Meth 
odist  Church  on  South  Broad  street.  At  the  close 
of  the  first  week  300  children  and  118  women  were 


84  Evidences  of  Progress 

enrolled.  The  school  soon  outgrew  its  quarters  and 
was  removed  to  the  Massie  school  on  Gordon  street, 
which  building  was  assigned  to  this  service  by  Gen 
eral  Grover,  commander  of  the  district. 

Previous  to  1867  the  colored  Methodist  Church, 
New  street ;  Lamar  Hall,  Liberty  street ;  the  lecture 
rooms  of  First  and  Bryan  Baptist  Churches ;  Sturte- 
vant  Hall,  an  old  wooden  structure  on  the  site  of 
present  buildings  at  corner  of  Price  and  Harris  streets, 
sheltered  this  A.  M.  A.  work. 

In  1867  commodious  buildings  were  erected  by  the 
American  Missionary  Association,  and  dedicated  as 
Beach  Institute,  in  honor  of  Alfred  E.  Beach,  Esq., 
editor  of  the  Scientific  American,  who  donated  the 
funds  to  purchase  the  site. 

There  were  600  scholars,  with  ten  teachers,  at  this 
time. 

The  teachers'  home,  30  Harris  street,  was  first  oc 
cupied  on  Thanksgiving  day,  1867. 

The  attendance  and  teaching  force  remained  at 
about  the  same  numbers  until  1875,  when  the  build 
ing  was  rented  to  the  city  for  the  use  of  the  public 
school  conducted  by  the  Board  of  Education. 

In  1879  tne  Association  again  assumed  charge  in 
order  to  secure  a  higher  grade  of  instruction  than 
the  public  school  authorities  thought  it  wise  for 
them  to  furnish. 

AVERY    INSTITUTE. 

The  Avery  Institute  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  is  doing 
a  splendid  work  for  the  educational  and  moral  uplifting 
of  the  colored  people  of  the  State.  I  do  not  know  of 


Among  Colored  People.  85 

a  single  school  in  the  State  where  so  many  children 
are  in  constant  attendance.  I  have  visited  this 
school  and  I  have  always  found  every  seat  in  the 
chapel  occupied  ;  in  fact,  the  entire  building  is  usually 
crowded. 


The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  all  the  normal 
and  graded  schools  conducted  by  the  American  Mis 
sionary  Association  in  the  South : 

Gregory  Institute,  Wilmington,  N.  C,  Washburn 
Seminary,  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  Lincoln  Academy,  All 
Healing,  N.  C,  Skyland  Institute,  Blowing  Rock,  N. 
C.,  Saluda  Seminary,  Saluda,  N.  C.,  Brewer  Normal 
School,  Greenwood,  S.  C.,  Dorchester  Academy, 
Mclntosh,  Ga.,  Storrs  School,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Ballard 
Normal  Institute,  Macon,  Ga.,  Allen  Normal  and  In 
dustrial  School,  Thomasville,  Ga.,  Knox  Institute, 
Athens,  Ga.,  Normal  Institute,  Albany,  Ga.,  Normal 
School,  Orange  Park,  Fla.,  Union  School,  Martin,  Fla., 
Trinity  School,  Athens,  Ala.,  Normal  School,  Marion, 
Ala.,  Emerson  Institute,  Mobile,  Ala.,  Burrell  School, 
Selma,  Ala.,  Green  Academy,  Nat,  Ala.,  Industrial 
Training  School,  Anniston,  Ala.,  Carpenter  High 
School,  Florence,  Ala.,  Le  Moyne  Institute,  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  Warner  Institute,  Jonesboro',  Term.,  Slater 
Training  School,  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Grand  View 
Academy,  Grand  View,  Tenn.,  Pleasant  Hill,  Tenn., 
Cumberland  Gap,  Tenn.,  Crossville,  Tenn.,  Chandler 
Normal  School,  Lexington,  Ky.,  Williamsburg,  Ky., 
Meridian,  Miss.,  Jackson,  Miss.,  Almeda  Gardner 


86  Evidences  of  Progress 

School,  Moorehead,  Miss.,  Helena  Normal  School, 
Helena,  Ark. 

Total  number  of  schools,  84;  total  instructors, 
408;  total  pupils,  12,604. 

Theological,  113;  Collegiate,  55;  Collegiate  Pre 
paratory,  151  ;  Normal,  1,455  ;  Grammar,  2,770;  In 
termediate,  3,241  ;  Primary,  4,937.  Total,  12,604. 

Some  of  these  schools  are  located  in  the  remote 
districts  of  the  South  among  what  might  be  classed 
the  neglected  classes  of  the  colored  people.  It  is  a 
hard  matter  to  correctly  calculate  the  real  worth 
of  these  institutions. 

DORCHESTER    ACADEMY. 

Dorchester  Academy,  Mclntosh,  Ga.,  is  but  one 
type  of  a  class.  It  is  in  the  rice  fields  of  Georgia. 
Beginning  with  one  teacher,  it  now  numbers  413 
pupils,  five  of  whom  are  in  the  advanced  normal  grade. 
The  principal  writes  us :  "  Although  my  boys  and 
girls  wear  dark  skins,  and  come  from  the  rice  fields 
and  turpentine  swamps,  and  their  native  speech  is 
sometimes  little  better  than  a  jargon,  still  I  would 
not  have  hesitated  in  an  exhaustive  review  of  as  much 
of  the  work  of  the  year  as  could  be  covered  in  two 
days'  examination  to  have  put  them  beside  boys  and 
girls  coming  from  far  more  favorable  surroundings. 
It  was  a  thorough  test  and  was  well  met." 

This  is  a  school  which,  with  many  variations,  may 
stand  for  many.  Next,  we  advance  to  schools  of 
higher  grade,  such  as  Beach  Institute,  in  Savannah; 
Gregory  Institute,  in  Wilmington ;  Ballard  Normal 


Among  Colored  People.  87 

Institute,  in  Macon  ;  Allen  Normal,  in  Thomasville  ; 
Orange  Park  Normal,  in  Florida ;  Le  Moyne  Insti 
tute,  in  Memphis  ;  and  Avery  Institute,  in  Charleston 
(which  has  merited  its  place  among  chartered  insti 
tutions)  ;  and  in  the  entire  field  twenty-seven  more, 
each  deserving  consideration,  which  together  form  a 
system  of  schools  where  disciplined  and  experienced 
instructors  are  preparing  youth  for  worthy  life  and 
many  to  be  worthy  teachers  for  their  less  privileged 
people.  These  schools,  though  unlike  in  their  en 
vironments  and  characteristics,  are  yet  similar  in 
purpose  and  not  dissimilar  in  their  courses  of  study. 
Northern  visitors  often  express  surprise  in  their  dis 
covery  of  the  quality  of  their  work. 

In  referring  again  to  Le  Moyne  Normal  Institute, 
I  will  say  it  was  founded  in  1871  by  the  American 
Missionary  Association,  and  named  after  Dr.  F.Julius 
Le  Moyne  of  Washington,  Pa.,  who  gave  some 
$20,000  for  that  purpose. 

The  course  of  study  is  English  only,  including  the 
training  of  teachers  through  a  good  normal  course 
and  with  considerable  attention  to  manual  training, 
including  woodworking  and  printing  for  the  boys, 
and  sewing,  cooking,  and  nursing  for  the  girls.  The 
school  was  originally  designed  to  accommodate  about 
250  pupils,  but  has  grown  to  a  capacity  of  over  600 
in  regular  attendance,  with  an  annual  enrollment  of 
over  750.  The  buildings  are  good  and  well  adapted 
to  the  work  carried  on  in  them. 

The  principal  of  this  school,  Mr.  A.  J.  Steele,  has 
had  charge  of  the  work  since  January,  1874. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

EPISCOPAL   SCHOOLS. 

WHILE  the  Episcopal  Church  has  not  built  up  as 
many  schools  for  the  education  of  colored  people  in 
the  South  as  many  other  denominations,  the  work  it 
has  accomplished  is  of  the  most  thorough  and  sys 
tematic  character. 

REV.    JAMES    S.  RUSSELL,    ARCHDEACON    OF   VIRGINIA. 

Mr.  Russell's  early  training  was  under  sober,  il 
literate  Christian  parents.  In  very  early  life  he  made 
a  profession  of  religion,  was  baptized  and  joined  a 
neighboring  denominational  church.  His  member 
ship  remained  here  until  he  had  read  the  book  of 
Common  Prayer,  when  he  at  once  changed  his  faith 
and  offered  himself  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry 
in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  He  at  first  felt 
that  he  would  like  to  be  a  missionary  to  Africa,  and 
his  mind  was  so  made  up  until  it  was  changed  by  the 
earnest  persuasions  of  his  aged  mother,  whose  only 
child  he  was.  He  has  long  since  felt  that  rich  fields, 
white  and  ready  to  be  harvested,  awaited  him  in  his  own 
native  State,  where  his  ministry  is  considered  a  success. 

Mr.  Russell  had  been  appointed  on  different  com 
mittees  in  the  diocese  of  Virginia,  and  at  the  council 
in  Norfolk  in  1893,  diocese  of  Southern  Virginia, 
he  was  made  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  the 
(88) 


Among  Colored  People.  89 

State  of  the  church.  He  was  also  notified  by  Bishop 
Randolph  at  this  council  that  he  had  nominated  him 
for  his  Arch-deacon  of  the  diocese,  to  have  general 
charge  of  the  colored  work  in  Southern  Virginia, 


REV.   JAMES   S.    RUSSELL. 

This  nomination  was  confirmed  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Church  Commission  in  Washington,  October  nth, 
of  the  same  year,  and  the  Venerable  Arch-deacon 
Russell  entered  upon  his  new  duties  immediately 
thereafter.  This  new  office  relieves  him  of  none' of 
the  work  already  carried  by  him  as  principal  of  thf? 


go  Evidences  of  Progress 

school,  for  he  has  the  entire  care  of  raising  funds  to 
operate  his  large  school  at  Lawrenceville,  situated  in 
the  heart  of  the  "Black  Belt "  of  Virginia.  The  school 
is  inculcating  the  self-help  principle  in  its  students. 
The  education  of  head,  hand  and  heart  are  com 
bined. 

The  industries  carried  on  at  present  are  Black- 
smithing,  Wheelwrighting,  Carpentering,  Printing, 
Shoemaking,  Farming,  Grist  and  Saw-Milling  for  the 
boys,  and  Cutting,  Fitting,  Dress-Making,  Tailoring, 
Cooking,  Washing  and  Ironing  for  the  girls.  Machin 
ery  and  material  for  these  departments  are  needed 
and  earnestly  solicited. 

The  school  has  been,  and  is  still,  dependent  upon 
voluntary  support  from  the  friends  of  industrial  edu 
cation. 

The  cost  of  educating  a  student  in  St.  Paul's  is 
only  $75.00  a  year,  and  the  student  is  required  to  pay 
$50.00  in  money  and  labor,  and  the  friends  of  the 
school  are  asked  to  give  the  $25.00,  styled  a  scholar 
ship. 

There  were  over  300  students  in  attendance  for 
session  1895-96.  The  graduating  class  numbers 
twenty,  and  they  represent  nine  distinct  States.  The 
school  has  students  from  sixteen  States  in  the  Union. 

No  discrimination  is  made  on  account  of  one's  re 
ligious  belief,  but  all  are  treated  alike  and  all  are  re 
quired  to  comply  with  the  rules  and  regulations  as 
laid  down. 

The  Arch-deacon  would  find  no  trouble  in  ad 
mitting  500  or  more  students  if  he  only  had  the 


Among  Colored  People.  91 

necessary  accommodations  for  them.  The  Arch 
deacon  is  meeting  with  great  success  in  the  mission 
work  of  his  church  in  the  diocese  of  Southern  Vir 
ginia. 

COLORED    ORPHAN   ASYLUM    AND    INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOI, 
LYNCHBURG,     VIRGINIA. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  Institutions  I 
know  of  in  the  South.  It  was  chartered  by  the  Legis 
lature  of  Virginia,  in  the  year  1889,  and  is  established 
for  the  benefit  of  colored  orphans  of  the  whole  conti 
nent,  to  rescue  them  from  brutal  treatment,  ignorance, 
vice,  and  lives  of  shame  and  crime,  and  to  endeavor 
to  make  of  them  sensible,  sober,  chaste,  industrious, 
religious,  and  useful  members  of  society. 

No  higher  education  is  here  contemplated,  ex 
ceptional  cases  aside,  than  to  make  of  them  intelli 
gent  farmers,  mechanics,  cooks,  etc. 

This  is  a  much-needed  work.  Most  abject  pov 
erty,  ignorance  and  improvidence  cause  the  death 
of  many,  whose  offspring  are  left  to  the  mercy  of  the 
poor  neighbor.  The  orphan,  originally  received  out 
of  kindness,  is  kept  as  a  slave,  when  it  is  able  to  do 
any  kind  of  work  ;  and  no  one  suspects  that  there  are 
innumerable  orphans  scattered  in  cabins,  who  are 
practically  slaves,  groaning  under  the  bitter  burden 
of  work  and  the  lash  of  taskmasters  of  their  own 
race.  The  slavery  of  adults  has  been  abolished,  and 
the  slavery  of  children  has  been  made  more  bitter 
and  more  brutal.  Now  brutal  treatment  produces 


92  Evidences  of  Progress 

brutes ;  the  man  avenges  by  crime  society's  guilt  in 
heartlessly  neglecting  innocent  childhood  in  its  suffer 
ings  and  degradation. 

Sufficient  as  is  the  direct  object  of  redeeming  neg 
lected  orphans,  by  itself,  to  appeal  to  the  heart  and 
conscience,  it  is  also  the  most  promising  work  for  the 
elevation  of  the  whole  race. 

This  race  needs  examples  of  new  life  to  free  itself 
from  the  influences  of  the  past.  It  needs  examples, 
not  so  much  of  college-bred  men  who  follow  the  pro 
fessions,  as  of  pure  men  and  women  who  walk  in  the 
common  paths  of  life,  and  who  can  lead  in  the  way 
of  sensible,  honest,  industrious,  cleanly,  and  thrifty 
living,  that  the  sense  of  sin  and  virtue,  of  the  morally 
right  and  wrong,  may  be  developed.  This  is  the 
noblest  and  most  promising  of  charities,  because  it 
is  for  the  youngest,  the  weakest  and  the  lowest. 

The  institution  occupies  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
a  fraction  acres,  in  a  most  healthful  spot,  affording  as 
fine  an  opportunity  for  the  bringing  up  of  children 
as  is  to  be  found  in  the  whole  country.  When  com 
pleted,  several  hundred  children  will  be  comfortably 
provided  for  and  trained  for  their  life's  work.  One 
wing  has  been  built,  and  shelters  between  fifty  and 
sixty  children,  who  range  in  age  from  infancy  to  fif 
teen  or  sixteen.  A  second  wing  is  in  progress  of 
erection  at  this  writing.  A  steam  brick  yard  fur 
nishes  the  brick  and  will  also  form  part  of  the  indus 
trial  system. 

As  to  results,  so  far,  it  is  but  the  literal  truth  to 
say  that  orphans  who  would  otherwise  have  been 


Among  Colored  People. 


93 


doomed  to  child  slavery  and  devoted  to  destruction 
of  body  and  soul,  not  only  wonderfully  prosper  in 
health,  but  are  manifestly  influenced  by  the  regular 
occupation,  the  firm  discipline,  the  atmosphere  of 
honesty  and  fidelity  in  work,  and  the  mental  and  re- 


HOFFMAN   WING    OF   COLORED    ORPHAN    ASYLUM    AND     INDUSTRIAL 
SCHOOL. 

ligious  instruction.  The  Rev.  Paul  Sterling,  of  Mel- 
rose,  Mass.,  writes  to  the  New  York  Churchman:" 
"  It  goes  without  saying  that  such  a  work  is  doing 
good,  but  its  beneficial  effects  are  very  evident,  even 
in  the  case  of  the  youngest  child,  and  are  the  best 


94  Evidences  of  Progress 

possible  endorsement  of  the  wisdom  and  capacity  of 
those  who  have  the  Institution  in  charge.  The  scru 
pulous  cleanliness  and  orderliness  that  prevail  is  also  a 
thing  that  commends  the  Institution  to  the  observer." 
This  Institution  is  without  any  endowment  and  is 
entirely  dependent  for  building  fund  and  for  daily 
bread  upon  voluntary  contributions.  The  small  sum 


THREE   ORPHAN    SISTERS    AT    LYNCHBURG   SCHOOL. 

of  sixty  dollars  a  year  rescues,  shelters,  trains,  feeds 
and  clothes  one  child  !  In  consideration  of  the  great 
need  of  such  work  as  this  institution  is  doing,  and 
of  the  many  well-equipped  Institutions  all  over  the 
South  for  meeting  the  other  needs  of  the  race,  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  means  will  be  soon  forthcoming  to 


Among  Colored  People.  95 

complete  and  endow  this  noble  work.  Contributions 
may  be  sent  to  Rev.  A.  Jaeger,  D.  D.,  general  mana 
ger,  or  to  Rev.  C.  Breckinridge  Wilrner.  Superin 
tendent,  Lynchburg,  Virginia. 

ST.  AUGUSTINE'S  SCHOOL. 

While  mission  work  of  various  kinds  must  be 
carried  on,  it  is  evident  that,  through  the  work  of 
schools,  the  Church  will  accomplish  its  greatest  work. 
The  ambition  of  the  people  for  education  is  very 
great,  and  it  must  be  along  these  lines  that  the 
Church  will  not  only  satisfy  the  longings  of  the 
people,  but  also  give  them  the  greatest  training  in 
Christian  discipline. 

St.  Augustine's  School,  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  has  led 
the  way  in  this  training.  It  has  already  sent  out 
from  its  walls  hundreds  of  teachers  and  over  twenty 
of  the  colored  clergy.  A  large  number  of  the 
teachers  and  clergy  now  at  work  under  the  Commis 
sion  for  Work  among  the  Colored  People  received 
their  training  here.  It  was  founded  just  after  the 
war  by  the  Rev.  J.  Brinton  Smith,  D.  D.,  from  the 
diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  with  the  hearty  co-operation 
of  Bishop  Atkinson,  of  North  Carolina.  Dr.  Smith 
secured  money  with  which  its  land  was  purchased 
and  buildings  erected. 

Its  work  is  carried  on  along  three  lines — Indus 
trial,  Normal  and  Collegiate.  With  the  exception  of 
a  cook  and  farm  hand,  with  occasional  assistance, 
the  whole  work  of  the  school  is  done  by  the  students. 
The  girls  have  the  care  of  the  household,  the  young 


g6  Evidences  of  Progress. 

men  the  care  of  the  grounds.  Besides  that,  the  girls 
receive  thorough  and  systematic  training  in  both 
cooking  and  sewing,  the  courses  extending  over 
several  years.  Instruction  has  been  given  to  the 
young  men  in  carpentering  and  in  brick-laying.  It 
is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  this  trade  instruction 
might  be  furthered  by  the  establishment  of  a  trade 
school,  modelled  after  the  New  York  Trade  School, 
founded  by  Col.  Auchmuty  and  so  well  endowed  by 
Mr.  J.  Pierpont  Morgan.  The  skilled  mechanics  of 
the  South  were  largely  trained  in  the  days  of  slavery, 
and,  with  the  passing  of  this  generation,  it  is  impor 
tant  that  younger  men  should  be  thoroughly  trained 
and  enabled  to  earn  an  honest  living.  The  develop 
ment  of  the  South  depends  not  alone  upon  its  rich 
and  various  resources,  nor  upon  the  muscle  of  the 
colored  laborers,  but  also  upon  the  brain  and  skill 
of  those  laborers. 

In  its  normal  work,  the  school  is  continually 
sending  forth  a  stream  of  teachers  for  the  public 
schools  as  well  as  for  the  Church  schools.  There  is 
little  danger  of  carrying  on  higher  education,  as 
some  have  thought.  The  greatest  difficulty  is  in 
securing,  at  this  stage  of  the  race's  development, 
students  who  have  the  grit  to  persevere  in  their 
school  work  so  as  to  reach  the  higher  classes. 

The  school  has  an  endowment  of  about  $30,000, 
of  which  $25,000  reverts  to  the  Board  of  Managers 
of  Missions,  in  case  of  impairment  or  misuse.  There 
are  large  buildings  for  both  girls  and  young  men. 
Two  of  the  buildings  have  been  erected  almost  entirely 
by  the  students. 


CHAPTERS   V.  AND   VI. 

METHODIST   SCHOOLS. 

THE  Methodist  Church  has  been  very  active  in  its 
educational  work  at  the  South,  and  its  schools  rank 
among  the  very  best.  It  is  noticeable  that  this 
church  has  paid  special  attention  to  industrial  educa 
tion  among  the  colored  people.  I  have  visited 
some  of  these  schools  and  I  was  pleased  to  see  how 
highly  the  young  men  and  young  women  appreciate 
the  opportunities  afforded  them  to  learn  trades  and 
professions. 

WALDEN    UNIVERSITY. 

At  the  close  of  the  Rebellion  in  1865,  the  con 
dition  of  the  emancipated  slaves  attracted  the  at 
tention  of  patriots,  philanthropists,  and  Christians 
North  and  South.  There  were  millions  of  them 
ignorant  of  books  and  of  their  duty  as  freedmen. 
They  were  poor,  having  only  the  clothes  they  wore, 
or  if  they  had  other  property,  it  could  usually  be 
carried  in  a  bundle  in  the  hand  or  on  the  head.  All 
the  leading  religious  denominations  of  the  North 
entered  this  field  of  missionary  work — the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  among  the  first.  In  1865  the  mis 
sionary  society  of  this  church  appropriated  $10,000 
to  establish  a  school  for  the  freedmen  in  the  South. 
This  sum  was  placed  under  the  direction  of  Rev. 
7  (97) 


98  Evidences  of  Progress 

Bishop  D.  W.  Clark,  D.  D.,  who,  having  visited 
Nashville,  authorized  Rev.  John  Seys  and  Rev.  O.  O. 
Knight  to  open  a  school  in  Clark  Chapel,  a  church 
building  purchased  from  the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 
and  then  known  as  Andrew  Chapel.  Rev.  O.  O. 
Knight  was  principal,  assisted  by  Mrs.  Julia  North, 


WALDEN    UNIVERSITY. 

D>'.  J.  Benson  Hamilton,  President. 

Mrs.  Mary  Murphy,  and  Miss  O.  D.  Barber.  All  of 
the  assistants  were  colored.  The  school  was  com 
posed  of  scholars  of  all  ages  and  sizes — grandparents 
and  grandchildren,  parents  and  children,  were  in  the 
same  classes.  They  were  poorly  clad,  and  mostly 
homeless  wanderers  from  the  plantations.  They  found 
shelter  in  the  army  barracks,  in  abandoned  houses, 
in  cellars  or  garrets,  stables,  or  other  out-houses — 
whatever  would  afford  them  a  present  shelter.  Yet 
in  the  midst  of  this  destitution  they  were  hungry  for 


Among  Colored  People.  99 

education.  Never  did  teachers  have  more  earnest 
pupils.  The  crowded  condition  of  the  church  soon 
led  the  teachers  to  seek  for  better  accommodations, 
and  the  next  year  the  school  was  moved  into  the 
building  known  as  the  Gun  Factory. 

The  school  was  chartered  in  1 866  by  the  Legislature 
of  Tennessee.  A  large  portion  of  the  students  have 
been  teachers,  and  are  at  school  preparing  for  more 
advanced  work. 

Since  this  school  has  had  its  charter,  we  know  of 
none  where  a  greater  amount  of  good  has  been  ac 
complished.  The  graduates  from  there  are  found  in 
all  parts  of  the  country  engaged  in  all  useful  walks 
of  life.  There  is  a  theological  training  given  to 
young  men  wishing  to  enter  the  ministry.  Also  a 
splendid  law  department  where  young  men  are  pre 
pared  to  plead  in  the  highest  courts  of  the  land. 
Dr.  J.  Braden,  D.  D.,  who  has  for  years  stood  at  the 
head  of  this  Institution  as  its  president,  is  one  man 
among  a  million,  for  when  he  went  to  Nashville,  it 
was  worth  more  than  mere  talk  for  a  white  man  to 
declare  himself  a  friend  to  negro  education.  He 
grew  old  in  the  work,  and  was  much  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  him.  At  his  death  he  was  succeeded  as 
president  by  Dr.  J.  Benson  Hamilton,  a  man  who  is 
known  as  a  strong  leader,  and  doubtless  one  who  will 
take  up  the  work  Dr.  Braden  had  for  years  carried 
on  with  such  marked  success,  and  continue  to  make 
Walden  University  one  of  the  best  known  schools.  It 
was  for  years  known  as  Central  Tennessee  College. 


IOO  Evidences  of  Progress 

MEHARRY     MEDICAL,     DENTAL     AND      PHARMACEUTICAL 
DEPARTMENTS    OF   WALDEN   UNIVERSITY. 

G.  W.  HUBBARD,  M.  D.,    DEAN. 

The  Meharry  Medical  Department  was  organized 
in  October,  1876,  and  was  the  first  school  opened  in 
the  Southern  States  for  the  education  of  Colored 
Physicians.  Since  that  date,  482  students  have  been 
enrolled,  263  of  whom  have  received  the  degree  of 
M.  D.,  and  most  of  whom  are  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  their  profession  in  the  Southern  States, 
and  have  been  cordially  received  by  the  White  Physi 
cians;  they  consult  with  them  in  serious  cases  and 
assist  in  difficult  surgical  operations. 

The  success  which  has  attended  the  professional 
work  of  their  alumni  has  been  very  encouraging, 
and  the  professional  reputation  they  have  acquired 
is  such  as  any  college  might  well  be  proud  of. 

Ever  since  the  organization  of  Meharry  Medical 
College,  the  want  of  means  has  been  greatly  felt. 
Every  year,  many  students  have  been  unable  to  at 
tend  on  account  of  the  lack  of  sufficient  means. 
With  few  exceptions,  they  are  entirely  dependent  on 
their  own  labor  to  meet  their  college  expenses,  and 
many  have  younger  brothers  or  sisters  to  assist  or 
families  of  their  own  to  support.  During  the  session 
of  1894-95,  one  of  their  students  sacrificed  his  life 
in  his  efforts  to  supply  the  needs  of  his  family  and 
carry  on  his  medical  studies.  The  applications  are 
frequent  asking  for  a  little  aid,  or  for  an  opportunity 
to  work  to  help  pay  their  college  expenses. 

The  Dental  and  Pharmaceutical  Hall  contains  a 


Among  Colored  People.  101 

clinical  amphitheatre  capable  of  seating  two  hundred 
students,  a  Dental  Infirmary,  Dental  Laboratory,  two 
rooms  for  pharmaceutical  work,  a  laboratory  for 
analytical  chemistry  and  a  museum. 

The  twenty-first  annual  session  of  the  college 
opened  September  14,  1896. 

The  Meharry  Dental  Department  was  opened  in 
1885,  and  since  that  time  twenty-two  have  completed 
a  course  in  dentistry  and  received  the  degree  of  Doc 
tor  of  Dental  Surgery. 

A  most  promising  and  useful  field  is  now  open  in 
this  profession,  as  there  is  a  large  and  increasing 
demand  for  dental  work,  and  good  and  competent 
Dentists  will  find  plenty  of  work  and  fair  remunera 
tion. 

This  school  is  a  member  of  the  "American  Asso 
ciation  of  Dental  Faculties,"  and  diplomas  from  this 
college  receive  due  recognition  wherever  they  are 
presented. 

The  Pharmaceutical  Department  has  been  in  suc 
cessful  operation  for  five  years,  during  which  time 
thirty-one  students  have  finished  the  course  and 
have  been  fitted  for  the  responsible  position  of  prac 
tical  druggists.  With  scarcely  an  exception  the 
graduates  in  pharmacy  have  made  good  records  be 
fore  the  different  State  Boards  of  Pharmacy,  and 
most  of  them  are  either  owners  or  managers  of  drug 
stores  in  different  parts  of  the  South. 

The  question  is  often  asked,  "  What  are  the  young 
men  of  the  colored  race  doing  after  they  have  obtained 
a  college  or  professional  education?'* 


IO2  Evidences  of  Progress 

The  following  table  will  show  what  the  graduates 
of  Meharry  are  doing:  Teaching,  9;  Preaching,  4; 
Employees  of  U.  S.  Government,  3  ;  Editor,  I  ;  Sun 
day  School  Agent,  i;  Occupation  unknown,  6; 
Practising  medicine,  218.  Total  number  living,  242. 

CLARK    UNIVERSITY. 

Clark  University  is  a  Christian  school,  founded  in 
the  year  1870  by  the  Freedmen's  Aid  and  Southern 
Education  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
It  is  open  to  students  of  all  classes  regardless  of  sex 
or  color,  the  sole  conditions  of  admission  being  a 
desire  to  learn,  good  moral  character,  and  obedience 
to  lawfully  constituted  authority. 

The  buildings  and  grounds  are  located  just  south 
of  the  corporation  line  of  the  city  of  Atlanta,  Ga. 
The  campus  is  sufficiently  elevated  to  overlook  the 
city,  and  has  perfect  natural  drainage  on  all  sides. 
It  is  beautifully  shaded  with  oak  and  pine,  which 
with  its  great  elevation — 1,200  feet  above  sea  level — 
makes  it  a  delightful  retreat  in  midsummer.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more  healthful  location  in 
the  United  States — an  assertion  proven  by  the  fact 
that,  among  the  thousands  who  have  been  in  attend 
ance,  but  one  has  died  on  the  grounds  during  eight 
years  of  operation. 

Prof.  W.  H.  Crogman,  A.  M.,  has  succeeded  Rev. 
Charles  Manly  Melden  as  President  of  Clark  Uni 
versity.  For  some  years  Prof.  Crogman  has  been  at 


Among  Colored  People.  103 

the  University  as  teacher  of  Latin  and  Greek  lan 
guages  and  literature.  This  is  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  the  school  that  it  has  had  a  colored  Presi 
dent,  and  we  feel  that  a  wise  choice  has  been  made. 
Prof.  Crogman,  is  the  author  of  a  very  useful  and  well- 
written  book  on  the  subject  of  race  progress,  entitled 
"  The  Remarkable  Advancement  of  the  Negro  Race." 
His  book  is  full  of  very  instructive  and  interesting 
matter,  giving  a  great  many  valuable  facts  touching 
.upon  the  history  and  progress  of  the  race  in  this 
country,  in  such  a  way  that  no  family  can  well  afford 
to  be  without  a  copy. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  favor  of  books  writ 
ten  by  colored  authors  upon  the  subject  of  race 
progress.  While  the  race  is  making  such  marked 
and  rapid  progress,  a  new  book  could  appear  each 
year  full  of  useful  information. 

The  industrial  features  of  Clark  University  are  in 
teresting  in  the  extreme.  I  found  well  equipped 
shops  where  wagons  and  carriages  are  made  by 
students,  also  a  splendid  harness  shop,  where  several 
young  men  have  been  taught  the  trade  and  have 
since  started  harness  shops  of  their  own.  Large  ex 
press  and  ice  wagons,  now  in  use  in  Atlanta,  were 
made  at  Clark  University  entirely  by  student  labor. 
Every  young  man  above  the  age  of  sixteen  and  be 
low  the  college  classes  is  required  to  devote  two 
hours  per  day  to  manual  training,  consisting  both 
of  theoretical  and  practical  work.  Pupils  are  required 
not  only  to  construct  miniature  models,  but  products 
for  the  market  as  well,  and  thus  are  prepared  for  the 
struggle  of  life,  should  no  professional  position  open 
to  them.  Not  all  students  can  fill  professions. 


IO4  Evidences  of  Progress 

Skilled  bread-winners  are  second  only  to  skilled 
soul-winners.  The  great  need  of  the  South  and 
especially  of  the  Colored  people,  is  skilled  workmen 
who  can  wield  a  deft  hand  and  teach  others  to  do 
the  same — men  who  can  earn  $2.50  per  day  while 
others  are  earning  75  cents. 

Clark  University  is  endeavoring  to  supply  this 
want  through  her  Industrial  Department.  It  teaches 
Carpentry,  Wagon-making,  Carriage-trimming,  Har 
ness-making,  Painting  and  Printing. 

THAYER  HOME. 

This  home,  as  its  name  indicates,  is  modeled  after 
a  real  home,  and  is  furnished  with  all  modern  im 
provements.  It  can  accommodate  about  twenty 
young  ladies,  who  are  taught  to  cook,  keep  house 
and  do  other  things  practised  in  a  well  ordered 
home. 

Miss  Flora  Mitchell,  who  superintends  this  home, 
is  in  my  opinion,  one  of  the  finest  specimen  of  noble 
womanhood  I  have  ever  met. 

The  work  of  the  home  is  done  by  the  occupants 
alternately,  so  as  to  give  all  a  practical  knowledge  of 
model  housekeeping.  Lectures  are  given  on  domes 
tic  science,  food,  dress,  physical  culture  and  social 
ethics.  In  short,  the  aim  of  the  Home  is  to  fit 
young  ladies  to  conduct  and  adorn  a  model  Chris 
tian  home. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  the  excellent 
work  done  at  Thayer  Home,  and  especially  when  we 
take  into  consideration  the  very  crude  homes  that 


Among  Colored  People.  105 

many  of  the  girls  come  from  who  are  students  there. 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  eating  a  meal  at  the  Home  on 
one  occasion  and  I  was  very  much  impressed  with 
the  extreme  neatness  of  the  place.  Miss  Mitchell 
told  me  many  interesting  things  about  the  Home 
and  its  work,  also  showed  me  quite  a  lot  of  needle 
work  done  by  the  girls.  She  said,  "  I  have  visited 
several  homes  of  students  from  here  who  have  mar 
ried,  and  it  was  such  a  pleasure  to  see  our  girls 
located  in  neat,  clean  homes  of  their  own  when  both 
husband  and  wife  were  happy,  and  it  was  positive 
proof  to  me  that  our  labor  had  brought  forth  good 
results."  I  met  in  Philadelphia  Mrs.  Rev.  P. 
O'Connell  who  was  at  one  time  a  student  under  Miss 
Mitchell,  and  she  is  very  enthusiastic  over  the  good 
work  done  at  "  Thayer  Home"  for  Colored  girls.  I 
will  say  in  conclusion  that  if  Mrs.  O'Connell's  home 
is  a  specimen  of  other  homes  kept  by  students  from 
there,  then  "  Thayer  Home"  is  indeed  a  blessing. 

CLAFLIN    UNIVERSITY. 

The  existence  of  Claflin  University  is  due  largely 
to  the  generosity  of  the  Hon.  Lee  Claflin  and  family, 
of  Boston,  Mass. 

In  1869  this  property  was  purchased  and  set  apart 
to  its  present  purpose  and  is  now  one  of  the  most 
interesting  schools  in  existence  for  the  education  of 
the  Colored  youth ;  located  at  Orangeburg,  S.  C, 
where  the  Colored  Methodists  are  strong  in  number. 
Rev.  L.  M.  Dunton,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  president  of 


io6  Evidences  of  Progress 

Claflin,  went  South  as  a  preacher  in  the  early  days 
of  freedom  and  has  remained  ever  since.  Claflin 
University  has  now  one  hundred  acres  of  ground 
that  are  worked  by  students.  The  school  has  been 
assisted  by  the  Peabody  and  John  F.  Slater  funds  at 
different  times.  It  is  the  only  Methodist  school  in 
the  State  under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
or  its  aid  and  educational  society.  There  have  been 
enrolled  since  1869,  when  the  school  was  founded, 
about  8,OOO  different  students.  It  is  estimated  that 
one  thousand  Christian  teachers,  besides  many  minis 
ters,  mechanics,  and  intelligent  laborers,  have  been 
educated  there.  It  is  impossible  to  make  an  estimate 
as  to  the  great  good  that  has  been  done  by  prepar 
ing  Christian  young  men  and  women  to  be  laborers 
among  their  own  race.  The  number  of  teachers 
required  to  man  the  school  is  a'^out  nineteen  and  the 
property  is  estimated  at  one  hundred  thousand  dol 
lars  in  value,  and  has  some  twenty  buildings  con 
nected  with  the  institution.  Besides  the  Collegiate, 
College  Preparatory,  Normal  and  English  courses, 
twenty  distinct  industries  are  taught. 

NEW    ORLEANS    UNIVERSITY. 

The  University  is  situated  at  1428  St.  Charles 
avenue,  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  healthful 
sections  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  La.  The  ground 
includes  nearly  two  squares. 

The  main  building  is  of  brick,  five  stories  high, 
furnished  with  the  best  of  furniture. 


Among  Colored  People.  107 

Besides  large  parlors  and  society  rooms,  there  are 
rooms  for  150  students  in  the  building. 

The  heating  is  by  steam  and  every  precaution  has 
been  taken  for  comfort  and  for  safety. 

A  frame  building  is  used  exclusively  for  recitation 
rooms.  It  will  accommodate  350  students,  so  that 
ample  provision  has  been  made  for  all  who  can 
attend. 

The  value  of  the  entire  property  is  $100,000. 

It  has  an  industrial  school  in  connection,  in  the 
way  of  carpenter-shop,  printing  office,  tinshop,  and 
surgery  school. 

In  about  1889  there  was  a  Medical  School  estab 
lished  at  New  Orleans  University,  and  up  to  1892  the 
first  class  graduated.  The  charter  of  the  institution 

o 

admits  students  of  this  school  to  practise  in  its  wards  ; 
Also  admits  them  to  practise  in  the  State  of  Lousiana. 
Rev.  L.  G.  Adkinson,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  the  president, 
is  a  man  of  great  ability  and  has  accomplished  great 
good  during  his  professorship. 

COOKMAN    INSTITUTE. 

Cookman  Institute  is  located  at  Jacksonville,  Fla. 
The  beginning  of  this  Institute  was  very  unpreten 
tious.  It  was  started  in  1872,  simply  to  do  good 
among  the  colored  people  in  the  immediate  locality. 
Prof.  H.  R.  Bankerd  is  president. 

In  an  old  church,  then  in  an  unfinished  building^ 
and  finally  in  a  small,  two-story  wooden  building, 
Cookman  Institute  took  on  its  more  permanent 
growth. 


io8  Evidences  of  Progress 

Property  adjoining  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
was  purchased  by  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society,  and 
upon  it  began  the  long  and  laborious  task  of  erect 
ing  buildings  suitable  for  the  work,  and  also  the 
greater  difficulty  of  raising  the  money  to  pay  for 
them.  The  institution  has  buildings  worth  $25,000, 
accommodating  one  hundred  boarders  and  400  day 
pupils.  These  serve  for  the  present  size  of  the  school. 
They  are  constructed  of  brick,  and  convey  the  idea 
of  strength  and  durability. 

Of  far  greater  value  than  building  has  been  the 
desire  to  see  the  intellectual  work  carried  forward. 
This  has  been  no  easy  task.  To  organize  the  various 
departments,  get  the  classes  well  defined  and  students 
brought  on  to  fill  the  several  stations  in  the  progress 
of  the  work,  has  taken  years  of  patient  toil  and  the 
expenditure  of  much  money. 

Those  who  have  been  with  the  school  have  won 
for  themselves  many  golden  opinions.  The  grad 
uates  honor  themselves  in  their  success  in  life,  and 
show  what  education  will  do  for  the  people  when  ex 
tended  courses  of  study  are  pursued. 

LAGRANGE    ACADEMY. 

This  school  is  located  at  LaGrange,  Ga.  The 
faculty  consists  of  Miss  Carrie  King,  Principal;  Carrie 
E.  Campbell  and  Julia  Gilmore,  Tutors. 

This  school  was  organized  in  1876,  and  is  now 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  and 
Southern  Education  Society.  Its  design  is  to  meet 
the  great  demand  for  a  thorough  and  systematic 


Among  Colored  People.  109 

course  through  the  English,  Normal  and  Academic 
studies.  The  Academy  is  an  auxiliary  to  Clark 
University,  and  the  text-books  used  are  the  same  as 
at  the  University.  The  building  is  situated  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  town,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  from  the  station. 

RUST    UNIVERSITY. 

This  Institution  is  located  at  Holly  Springs,  Miss., 
and  was  started  in  the  early  days  of  freedom  by  the 
Freedmen's  Aid  Society  and  represents  one  of  the 
best  schools  in  the  South  for  the  education  of  the 
colored  youth.  Being  a  Methodist  School,  it  has  a 
large  number  of  families  to  draw  its  scholars  from, 
for  Mississippi  is  largely  made  up  of  Methodists  and 
Baptists.  I  found  a  much  better  state  of  affairs  in 
Mississippi  from  an  educational  standpoint  among 
the  colored  Methodists  than  I  expected,  and  I  am 
sure  the  credit  is  largely  due  to  the  very  excellent 
work  done  at  Rust  University.  I  found  that,  in  ad 
dition  to  the  Academic,  Normal  and  Collegiate  courses 
taught  there,  they  give  industri-al  training  in  printing, 
sewing,  plumbing,  rustic  work,  and  domestic  in 
dustry.  They  also  have  a  splendid  model  home  for 
girls.  The  president,  William  W.  Foster,  Jr.,  D.  D., 
is  a  most  excellent  man.  He  comes  to  this  insti 
tution  from  the  East,  where  he  lias  served  some  of  the 
leading  M.  E.  Churches  as  pastor.  He  is  a  graduate 
of  Boston  University,  and  comes  well  fitted  to  take 
charge  of  such  a  school  as  Rust.  Mrs.  Foster,  who  is 
as  well  known  in  the  church  as  her  husband,  will  be 
of  great  help  and  inspiration  to  him  in  this  new  field. 


no  Evidences  of  Progress 

PRINCESS    ANNE   ACADEMY. 

This  school  is  located  at  Princess  Anne,  Mci 
Princess  Anne  Academy  was  founded  as  a  branch  of 
Morgan  College,  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  September,  1886, 
and  in  1891  was  also  made  the  Eastern  Branch  of 
the  Maryland  Agricultural  College. 

A  good  farm  containing  12 1  acres,  together  with 
barns,  stock,  farming  implements,  &c.,  have  been 
added  for  practical  instruction  in  Farming  and  Gar 
dening ;  also  shops,  tools  and  materials  for  teaching 
Carpentry,  Blacksmithing,  Shoernaking,  Tailoring, 
Masonry,  &c.,  have  been  provided  for  the  boys;  and 
facilities  for  teaching  the  girls  Cooking,  Laundering, 
Sewing,  and  the  general  proprieties  of  housekeeping, 
have  been  added,  and  very  gratifying  results  have 
followed. 

Students  are  allowed  to  select  their  own  trades,  at 
which  they  are  required  to  work  one  hour  daily  ex 
cept  on  Saturday,  when  they  devote  five  hours. 
They  rise  at  5.45  A.  M.,  and  retire  at  9.  45  p.  M.,  thus 
devoting  at  least  eight  hours  to  rest  and  sleep ;  of  the 
remaining  time  about  ten  hours  are  spent  in  Literary 
Work  and  Manual  Training.  The  course  of  study  is 
broad,  thorough,  and  perfectly  in  keeping  with  the 
spirit  and  needs  of  the  times.  Nearly  one  thousand 
persons  have  received  more  or  less  training  since  the 
organization  of  the  Academy,  and  few  have  any  dif 
ficulty  in  securing  profitable  employment  as  soon  as 
they  leave  school. 

The  school  was  founded  by  the  late  Prof.  B.  O. 
Bird.  At  his  death  Rev.  P.  O'Connell  took  charge  ; 
but  at  this  time  Prof.  Frank  Trigg  is  principal. 


Among-  Colored  People.  \\\ 

WILEY    UNIVERSITY. 

Wiley  University  is  located  at  Marshall,  Texas, 
a  quiet  city  of  ten  thousand  inhabitants.  It  is  now 
enjoying  a  period  of  unparalleled  prosperity  along 
all  lines.  For  the  years  1897-98,  the  enrollment 


REV.    M.    W.    DOGAN,    A.  M. 


reached  352.  These  pupils  come  from  Texas,  Lou 
isiana,  and  Arkansas,  and  represent  some  of  the  best 
homes  in  this  section. 

It   is   the   aim    of  the    management    to    keep    the 


112  Evidences  of  Progress 

courses  of  study  fully  abreast  of  the  best  in  the  South. 
To  this  end  the  departments  are  being  constantly 
strengthened.  In  addition  to  a  well-equipped  college 
department,  the  following  departments  are  success 
fully  operated  :  preparatory,  normal,  English,  musical, 
and  industrial. 

Wiley  University  is  distinctively  a  Christian  insti 
tution  and  no  apology  is  made  for  insisting  on  Chris 
tian  instruction.  The  pupils  are  taught  that  the  most 
enduring  education  has  Christianity  for  its  basis. 

The  faculty  of  Wiley  is  composed  of  1 5  professors 
and  instructors,  all  colored  but  two.  Rev.  M.  W. 
Dogan,  A.  M.,  is  a  young  man  of  most  excellent 
educational  qualifications  for  the  place  he  holds  as 
president  of  Wiley  University.  He  has  taught  at 
some  of  the  best  schools  in  the  South. 

MORGAN  COLLEGE. 

Morgan  College  is  located  in  Baltimore,  Md.  Rev. 
F.  J.  Wagner  was  for  years  its  president.  The 
school  has  played  an  important  part  in  the  education 
of  the  race.  It  has  its  representatives  as  graduates 
all  over  the  State  of  Maryland.  The  higher  grades 
are  taught  there,  and  the  teachers  employed  are  the 
best.  In  addition  to  its  regular  work  it  has  two 
branches,  in  the  way  of  the  Lynchburg,  Va.,  Annex 
and  Princess  Anne  Academy,  located  at  Princess 
Anne,  Md.,  which  is  mentioned  in  another  write-up. 
Since  Rev.  Wagner  retired  as  president,  Prof.  J.  O. 
Spencer,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  has  taken  charge  of  the 
work.  Mr.  Spencer  is  a  white  man  who  is  much  in 
terested  in  the  race. 


Among  Colored  People,  113 

BENNETT  COLLEGE. 

Located  at  Greensboro',  N.  C.,  in  a  part  of  the 
State  where  the  colored  population  is  very  large. 
This  school  when  first  opened  had  a  white  president 
in  the  person  of  Rev.  E.  O.  Thayer,  but  of  recent 
years  the  board  has  had  colored  teachers  in  charge. 
Rev.  C.  N.  Grandison  at  one  time  was  president. 
At  this  time  Prof.  J.  D.  Chavis,  A.  M.,  B.  D.,  is  presi 
dent  with  a  good  corps  of  colored  teachers  under  him. 
I  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  present  his  picture,  for  I 
am  of  the  opinion  that  he  is  a  most  worthy  young 
man. 

BROWNING    HOME, 

An  industrial  and  high-grade  school  for  girls,  is 
located  in  the  historic  town  of  Camden,  S.  C.,  within 
the  bounds  of  the  district.  The  work  done  there  and 
the  discipline  are  so  thorough  that  it  deserves  more 
than  mere  mention.  The  Home  was  built  in  1887 
by  the  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  to  educate  girls  and  young  women 
along  the  line  of  practical  housekeeping.  Since  the 
opening  of  the  school,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  have  received  training.  Connected  with  the 
Home  is  a  day-school  of  high  grade,  having  a  regular 
course  of  study,  from  which  three  classes  have  grad 
uated.  The  school  this  year  is  well  attended,  having 
an  enrollment  of  over  two  hundred ;  and  thirty-seven 
girl  boarders  in  the  Home. 

The  Home  will  be  enlarged  so  as  to  accommo- 
8 


114  Evidences  of  Progress 

date  all  who  may  come.     Total   expenses  for  board 
and  tuition,  five  dollars  per  month. 

Mrs.  Gordon,  the  superintendent,  and  her  corps 
of  teachers,  are  a  noble  band  of  self-sacrificing  women, 
who  came  from  the  North.  They  have  been  the  sub 
jects  of  opposition,  and  abuse,  and  ostracism,  in  their 
efforts  to  elevate  a  downtrodden  people,  and  they  de 
serve,  and  ought  to  have,  the  patronage,  sympathy, 
and  good-will  of  all. 

GAMMON    THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

Gammon  Theological  Seminary,  at  Atlanta,  Geor 
gia,  is  the  largest  theological  school  for  the  exclusive 
education  of  colored  men  in  the  United  States.  It 
stands  to-day  a  monument  to  the  philanthropy  of 
Elijah  H.  Gammon,  of  Maine,  a  noble  gentleman, 
who  endowed, the  school  with  nearly  half  a  million 
dollars.  Dr.  Gammon  was  certainly  a  philanthropist. 
This  fact  is  plainly  indicated  by  his  splendid  benefi 
cence. 

He  did  not  wait  till  in  sight  of  the  grave  and  then 
cast  off  his  wealth  as  a  possession  he  could  no 
longer  use  ;  but  living,  he  poured  out  his  treasures; 
yea,  more,  he  gave  the  ripe  thought  of  his  last  years 
—  planned  and  wrought  for  the  equipment  of  this 
Seminary.  The  measure  of  his  philanthropy  is  not 
in  that  he  gave  $io,OOO  to  Garrett,  $5,000  to  the 
Maine  Wesleyan,  thousands  to  churches  and  aid  to 
many  struggling  students.  The  mere  catalogue  of 
benefactions  is  no  measure  of  the  real  philanthropist. 
The  man  himself,  his  motive,  his  purpose,  his  sacri- 


Among  Colored  People.  115 

fice,  his  unselfish  enthusiasm,  his  giving  of  thought 
and  time  and  heart  for  humanity — these  are  the  tests 
of  genuine  philanthropy. 

He  did  not  endow  this  school  merely  for  the  sake 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  wanted  to 
help  all  his  fellow-men  through  all  the  churches.  It 
was  entrusted  to  the  care  and  direction  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as  best  adapted  through 
its  spirit,  .organization  and  government  in  the  South, 
to  carry  out  his  plans. 

His  benefactions  took  the  form  of  a  theological 
school  because  he  believed  that  the  ministers  held 
the  centre  of  power,  and  were  to  be  the  leaders  of 
their  race  for  years  to  come. 

He  established  an  institution  opened  especially  for 
the  Negro  race,  not  because  they  were  black,  but 
because  they  were  the  most  needy  of  all  men.  He 
simply  gave  practical  expression  to  his  faith  in  the 
fatherhood  of  God  and  the  brotherhood  of  man. 
He  was  no  sentimentalist  as  regards  the  Negro. 
He  simply  had  a  heart  as  broad  as  humanity — a 
great  heart  backed  by  conscience — and  without  prej 
udice,  it  went  out  to  this  race  as  a  part  of  God's 
family,  needing  the  touch  of  Christ's  hand,  through 
him. 

Rev.  Wilbur  P.  Thirkield,  D.  D.,  President  of 
Gammon  Theological  Seminary,  is  laboring  hard  and 
earnestly  to  make  the  institution  all  that  Dr.  Gam 
mon,  its  founder,  had  aimed  to  have  it ;  and  the  class 
of  young  men  who  are  receiving  their  training  for 
the  ministry  in  this  school  is  certainly  a  compliment 
to  the  endeavors  of  its  president. 


Il6  Evidences  of  Progress 

There  has  been  something  over  one  hundred 
young  ministers  who  have  graduated  from  Gammon 
Theological  Seminary. 

Dr.  J.  W.  E.  Bowen,  one  of  the  best  educated 
colored  men  in  this  country,  is  one  of  the  instructors 
in  this  institution  ;  and  his  work  is  regarded  as  being 
very  fruitful  and  effectual. 

The  position  Dr.  Bowen  holds  at  Gammon  Theo 
logical  Seminary  is  one  that  could  only  be  filled  by 
a  man  of  a  splendid  education.  He  is  Professor  of 
Church  History. 

Dr.  Bowen  was  a  representative  to  the  last  General 
Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  which  met  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  May,  1896.  He  secured  a  large 
vote  for  the  Bishopric,  but  I  am  sorry  indeed  to  say 
was  not  elected.  I  was  in  hopes  that  the  M.  E. 
Church  had  grown  magnanimous  enough  to  at  least 
elect  such  a  worthy  colored  man  to  preside  over  the 
thousands  of  colored  members  they  have,  if  no 
others. 

In  addition  to  the  schools  already  mentioned  in 
the  M.  E.  work,  I  wish  to  mention  Philander  Smith 
College  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  Rev.  J.  M.  Cox,  D.  D., 
president;  George  R.  Smith  College,  Sedalia,  Mo., 
E.  A.  Robertson,  principal;  Central  Alabama  Acade 
my,  Huntsville,  Ala.,  A.  W.  McKinney, principal;  Gil 
bert  College,  Baldwin,  La.,  A.  E.  P.  Albert,  princi 
pal  ;  Meridian  Academy,  Meridian,  Miss.,  J.  L.  Wil 
son,  principal  ;  Morristown  Academy,  Morristown, 
Tenn.,  J.  L.  Hill,  principal.  I  regret  that  want  of 
space  will  not  admit  of  special  mention  of  all  the 
above  schools,  for  I  can  assure  my  readers  that  they 


Among  Colored  People.  117 

are  all  worthy  institutions  that  are  playing  a  great 
part  in  the  education  of  the  race. 

Rev.  M.  C.  B.  Mason,  D.  D.,  was  elected  as  a 
general  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Freedmen's 
Aid  and  Southern  Educational  Society.  Mr.  Mason 
is  a  graduate  of  New  Orleans  University,  also  of 
Gammon  Theological  Seminary.  He  is  the  first 
colored  man  to  hold  this  position  in  the  history  of 
the  Society.  The  Methodist  Church  will  doubtless 
find  places  for  a  larger  number  of  the  educated 
colored  students  from  her  schools  to  labor  in  the  dif 
ferent  departments  of  the  church  than  have  been  em 
ployed  in  the  past. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

A.  M.  E.  SCHOOLS. 

I  DESIRE  to  call  the  reader's  attention  to  the  fact 
that  all  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Schools  are  supported 
entirely  by  the  colored  people.  In  this  regard  they 
are  unlike  i>ther  denominational  institutions. 

WILBERFORCE  UNIVERSITY. 

It  is  a  beautiful  coincidence,  full  of  historic  value, 
that  appears  in  the  planting  of  two  institutions  in 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  some  four  miles  apart. 
Between  them  runs  a  highway  over  which  passed, 
some  thirty-five  years  ago,  that  mysterious  line 
known  in  history  as  the  Underground  Railroad.  It 
was  wh.*s  the  slave  was  yet  hastening  his  flight  from 


n8 


Evidences  of  Progress 


the  tobacco  patches,  the  cotton  fields,  the  sugar 
plantations  of  the  Central  South  to  the  sterner  clime 
of  England's  Colony,  cold  yet  free,  that  Wilberforce 
University  rose,  right  beside  his  perilous  path,  to 
offer  freedom  of  mind  and  heart  to  him  who  dared 
remain.  The  war  came  with  its  carnage  and  death. 
Twenty  years  later  Ohio  built  a  home  where  the 
orphan  of  the  soldier  who  died  to  free  the  slave 
might  be  succored  in  the  years  of  its  helplessness. 
In  sight  of  each  other  and  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
fugitive's  path  to  liberty,  stand  these  historic  monu- 


WILBERFORCE   UNIVERSITY. 

ments,  the  results   of  a  civilization  that  is  the  glory 
of  the  century. 

Wilberforce  University  was  organized  in  1856  by 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Its  object  was  higher  educa 
tional  facilities  for  colored  youth.  In  its  first  Board 
of  twenty-four  Trustees  was  Hon.  Salmon  P.  Chase, 
then  governor  of  Ohio,  and  the  fugitive  slave's 
powerful  advocate ;  also  Rev.  Richard  S.  Rust  and 
Bishop  Paniel  A,  Payne,  Its  first  active  president 


Among  Colored  People. 


119 


was  Dr.  R.  S.  Rust,  and  its  students  were  largely 
"the  natural  children  of  Southern  and  South 
western  planters."  On  the  beautiful  premises,  for 
which  Nature  has  done  so  much,  with  its  sparkling 
mineral  springs,  its  varying  landscape,  its  superb 
repose,  the  young  institution  grew  and  flourished. 
But  the  dark  days  of  civil  strife  closed  in  upon  it  and 
its  patronage  from  the  South  ceased,  its  operations 
were  suspended. 


BISHOP   D.    A.    PAYNE,    D.  D.,   LL.  D., 

First  President  of  Wilberforce. 


1 20  Evidences  of  Progress 

While  the  war  was  still  in  progress,  the  future,  full 
of  misgivings,  without  a  dollar  and  alone,  on  the 
night  of  the  loth  of  March,  1863,  Bishop  Payne 
purchased  the  college  property  for  $10,000.  He  at 
once  associated  with  himself  Rev.  James  A.  Shorter, 
afterward  Bishop,  and  Prof.  J.  G.  Mitchell,  now  Dean 
of  Payne  Theological  Seminary.  An  act  of  incor 
poration  was  duly  taken  out,  with  the  broad  principle 
embodied  in  it  that  "there  shall  never  be  any  dis 
tinction  among  the  trustees,  faculty  or  students  on 
account  of  race,  color  or  creed." 

The  financial  obligations  which  Bishop  Payne  had 
assumed  were  being  promptly  met  through  his  inde 
fatigable  efforts,  and  everything  indicated  a  prosper 
ous  future,  when,  on  the  I4th  of  April,  1865,  and  by 
the  hand  of  incendiaries,  the  beautiful  edifice  went 
up  in  flame  and  smoke.  That  night  Lincoln  laid  his 
life  on  Freedom's  Altar.  Undismayed,  President 
Payne  began  the  labor  of  reconstruction.  A  four- 
story  brick  building  was  commenced  on  the  original 
site.  Congress  was  importuned,  and  through  the 
influence  of  Senators  John  Sherman,  Charles  Sumner 
and  others,  $28,000  was  appropriated  to  complete 
and  equip  the  work.  The  consecrated  efforts  of  the 
Founder  of  Wilberforce  University  were  fruitful  in 
other  directions.  Through  his  influence,  the  society 
for  the  promotion  of  Collegiate  and  Theological  edu 
cation  at  the  west  made  appropriations  from  its  funds, 
of  $1,800  per  annum  for  two  years.  The  American 
Unitarian  Association  supported  a  lecture  course 


Among  Colored  People.  121 

from  1868  to  1875  at  an  outlay  of  $6,000.  The  will 
of  Chief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase  contained  as  its 
first  bequest,  $10,000  for  Wilberforce  University,  and 
the  executors  of  the  Avery  estate  in  Allegheny  City 
added  $10,000  to  its  endowment. 

For  thirteen  years  Bishop  Payne  presided  over  the 
affairs  of  the  University.  He  called  to  his  aid  such 
instructors  as  Dr.  Wm.  Kent,  of  England,  Prof.  T.  E. 
Sullot,  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  Dr.  J.  G.  Mitchell, 
of  Oberlin,  Prof.  W.  B.  Adams,  of  Amherst,  Prof.  B. 
K.  Sampson,  of  Oberlin,  and  Prof.  J.  P.  Shorter,  of 
Wilberforce,  Ohio.  Among  the  ladies  who  rendered 
valuable  service  were  Miss  Esther  T.  Maltby  and 
Miss  Sarah  Jane  Woodson,  of  Oberlin,  Mrs.  Alice 
M.  Adams,  of  Holyoke,  and  Miss  Mary  McBride,  of 
Oswego. 

From  under  Bishop  Payne's  hand  went  out  such 
graduates  as  Dr.  J.  T.  Jenifer,  Dr.  T.  H.  Jackson, 
Prof.  J.  P.  Shorter,  Bishop  B.  F.  Lee,  Dr.  J.  W. 
Beckett,  President  S.  T.  Mitchell,  Miss  Hallie  Q.  Brown, 
the  Misses  Copeland  and  others  of  large  acquirements 
and  wide  influence,  known  over  the  continent.  In 
the  undergraduate  column  were  Bishop  Cain,  Bishop 
Salter,  Dr.  Wm.  Hunter,  Hon.  C.  L.  Maxwell,  Poet 
A.  A.  Whitman  and  others.  President  Payne  left  his 
impress  on  every  line  of  college  development.  He  or 
ganized  the  Trinity  Church,  the  Society  of  Inquiry 
on  Missions  and  the  Women's  College  Aid  Society. 

In  the  summer  of  1879  his  earnest  endeavors 
placed  in  position  our  most  valuable  teaching  auxil- 
liary,  the  Payne  Museum,  built  by  Prof,  Henry  A. 


122 


Evidences  of  Progress 


Ward,  of  Rochester,  and  illustrating  the  various  de 
partments  of  Natural  Science.  The  Museum  is 
worth  $2,000.  Bishop  Payne  resigned  the  presidency 
in  1876  and  it  was  in  the  administration  of  his  suc 
cessor  that  this  important  acquisition  was  made. 


REV.  B.  F.  LEE,  D.  D. 

President  Lee  brought  to  the  conduct  of  the  affairs 
of  the  University  splendid  moral,  mental  and  physi 
cal  abilities.  In  all  the  elements  of  devotion  to  a 
great  enterprise,  of  personal  sacrifice,  of  tireless  in 
dustry,  of  uprightness  of  character,  of  accurate  judg 
ment,  he  was  a  worthy  successor  to  the  great 
Founder. 


Among  Colored  People.  123 

And  the  University  grew  in  usefulness,  in  popu 
larity,  in  the  scope  and  character  of  its  departments. 
On  the  2Oth  of  June,  1878,  the  buildings  and  grounds 
were  dedicated  and  a  bright  era  dawned.  President 
Lee  held  most  of  the  faculty  for  a  period  and  joined 
to  it  such  talent  as  Prof.  W.  S.  Scarborough,  Mrs. 
S.  C.  Bierce,  Miss  E.  R.  George  and  others. 

Through  the  Missionary  Department  of  the  church, 
the  island  of  Hayti  was  brought  into  close  relations 
and  five  of  her  sons  entered  upon  various  courses  of 
study.  Under  the  efficient  management  of  Mrs. 
Bierce  (now  Mrs.  Scarborough),  a  graduate  of  Os- 
wego,  N.  Y.,  the  Normal  Department  rapidly  de 
veloped  into  a  most  vigorous  arm  of  the  University 
work.  President  Lee  organized  and  sent  out  the 
Wilberforce  Concert  Company  that  sang  its  way  to 
the  hearts  of  thousands  in  the  West  and  Northwest. 
Financially  it  was  not  a  success,  but  the  good  it 
accomplished  was  inestimable. 

This  administration  gave  to  the  world  a  brilliant 
galaxy  of  cultured  young  men  and  women,  for  the 
pulpit,  for  the  schoolroom  and  for  general  service. 
It  included  such  graduates  as  Profs.  H.  A.  Talbert, 
Ex-Professor  of  Languages  at  Wilberforce  University ; 
F.  S.  Delany,  Principal  High  School,  Madison,  Ind.; 
Edward  A.  Clark,  War  Department,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  M.  H.  Vaughn,  D.  M.  Ashby,  J.  R.  Gibson, 
Principal  High  School,  Galveston,  Tex.;  G.  W.  Prio- 
leau,  Chaplain  gth  Cavalry,  U.  S.  A. ;  Drs.  W.  H. 
Yeocum,  I.  M.  Burgan,  Ex-President  Paul  Quinn 


124 


Evidences  of  Progress 


College,  J.  R.  Scott,  President  Edward  Waters  Col 
lege,  Jacksonville,  Fla. ;  Miss  Georgiana  White,  Mrs. 
Alice  E.  Gary,  Principal  of  one  of  the  largest  public 
schools  in  Atlanta ;  Miss  A.  H.  Jones,  and  others. 


REV.  SAMUEL  T.  MITCHELL,  A.  M.,  LL.  D., 

President  of  Wilberforce  University,  Wilberforce,  Ohio. 

The  University  reached  its  highest  enrolment,  for  the 
first  twenty  years,  in  '/Q-'So,  a  total  of  171  students. 
All  through  these  years  revivals  occurred  with  the 
return  of  every  session  and  hundreds  of  young  men 
and  young  women  learned  life's  noblest  lesson  of 
consecrated  purpose  to  the  cause  of  God  and  man 
kind. 


Among  Colored  People.  125 

In  1884,  President  Lee  accepted  the  Editorial 
Chair  of  the  Christian  Recorder,  Philadelphia,  from 
which  he  rose  to  the  highest  station  in  the  gift  of 
his  church — the  bishopric.  The  presidency  came  to 
the  hands  of  another  of  Bishop  Payne's  graduates, 
Prof.  S.  T.  Mitchell,  of  class  of  '73.  It  is  preferable 
to  let  another  speak,  and  Prof.  W.  S.  Scarborough, 
in  the  Ohio  State  Journal,  of  February  5,  1894,  has 
the  following  comment: 

"  President  Mitchell's  incumbency  has  been  fraught 
with  nothing  but  good  for  the  college.  He  is  to  be 
congratulated  on  the  marvelous  success  that  has 
attended  his  efforts  of  upbuilding  and  enlarging  the 
usefulness  as  well  as  the  domains  of  the  institution." 

The  last  decade  has  witnessed  a  continuation  of 
the  steady  growth  of  the  University.  Four  Depart 
ments  now  represent  its  work.  The  Collegiate,  in 
cluding  law,  music  and  art,  with  its  preparatory 
courses;  the  Normal  and  Industrial,  under  State 
patronage ;  the  Theological,  under  the  name  of  the 
Payne  Theological  Seminary ;  and  the  Military,  under 
the  National  Government.  The  second  of  these  de 
partments  came  into  existence  in  1887  under  a  statute 
of  law  providing  both  for  its  organization  and  main 
tenance. 

From  that  time  until  the  present  (April  10,  1896), 
the  State  has  appropriated  $100,000  to  support  the 
department,  and  the  72d  General  Assembly  of  Ohio, 
by  a  majority  vote  greater  than  that  given  to  any 
other  State  Institution,  authorized  a  levy  on  the 
grand  tax  duplicate  of  the  State  that  will  yield  a 


126  Evidences  of  Progress 

permanent  revenue  of  $17,500  at  the  beginning,  to 
increase  annually  with  the  financial  growth  of  the 
commonwealth.  No  greater  endorsement  of  a 
Colored  Institution  can  be  found  anywhere  in  the 
United  States.  It  has  a  faculty  of  nine  members  who 
give  instruction  in  Normal  branches,  business  course, 
shorthand,  typewriting,  nurse  training,  vocal  culture, 
dressmaking,  cooking,  carpentry  and  printing. 

The  faculty  is  exceptionally  strong.  Oswego 
Normal  School,  New  York,  furnishes  the  principal 
of  the  Normal  Department ;  from  Central  Commer 
cial  College,  Iowa,  comes  the  business  professor; 
Ann  Arbor  gives  a  trained  medical  doctor  (a  lady), 
resident  physician  and  head  of  the  nurse-training  de- 
partmem.  An  experienced  mantua-maker,  who  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  counted  among  her  patrons 
Presidents',  senators'  and  diplomats'  wives  and  daugh 
ters,  trains  the  girls  in  dressmaking,  using  Mc 
Dowell's  system,  of  highest  honors  at  the  World's 
Fair.  A  graduate  of  Mrs.  Rorer,  head  of  the  cook 
ing  department  at  the  Columbian  Exposition,  teaches 
cooking;  an  experienced,  thoroughly  competent  in 
structor,  whose  education  was  obtained  in  Boston, 
trains  in  vocal  culture.  Skilled  workmen  of  ten  and 
fourteen  years'  experience,  teach  the  trades  of  car 
pentry  and  printing.  By  a  provision  of  the  statute, 
every  member  of  the  General  Assembly  may  nomi 
nate  a  student  resident  in  the  State,  whose  tuition, 
room  rent,  fuel  and  incidentals  are  furnished  free. 

The  equipment  includes  the  splendid  Normal  Hall, 
provided  with  office,  library,  reception  room,  cook- 


Among  Colored  People.  12  7 

ing  apparatus  for  instruction,  rooms  for  sewing  and 
nurse-training  and  teachers'  and  ladies'  resident  room. 
It  is  heated  by  the  Gurney  system  of  hot  water,  and 
is  supplied  with  bath  rooms,  laundry  room,  dining 
room  and  every  convenience.  A  fire-escape  at  each 
end  of  the  building  furnishes  ready  exit  from  every 
floor.  The  printing  office,  carpenter  shop,  and  cook 
ing  school,  each  fully  equipped  for  its  work,  are 
operated  in  a  new  three-story  brick  industrial  build 
ing,  constructed  by  students.  Here  is  located  a 
forty-five  horse-power  engine,  and  an  electric  plant 
sufficient  for  all  purposes  of  water  supply,  illumina 
tion  and  general  work. 

A  magnificent  mineral  spring  of  2,500  bbl.  capacity 
per  diem  is  the  source  of  water. 

To  the  sixty-two  acres  of  ground  now  occupied 
will  be  added  the  beautiful  estate  of  Robert  Ken 
dall,  just  adjoining,  and  which  contains  130  acres. 

The  University  also  owns  1,250  acres  of  eastern 
Kentucky  coal  lands. 

The  typewriting,  stenography,  and  business  de 
partment  of  the  Normal  and  Industrial  classes  have 
quarters  in  the  Main  University  Hall. 

The  Payne  Theological  Seminary  was  organized 
under  distinct  management  in  1891,  with  Bishop 
Payne  as  its  Dean,  with  whom  were  associated  Dr. 
J.  G.  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  Prof.  W.  S.  Scarborough,  LL.  D., 
and  Prof.  G.  W.  Prioleau,  B.  D.,  succeeded  by 
Prof.  George  W.  Woodson,  of  Drew  Seminary.  The 
hall  is  a  beautiful  and  substantial  structure  of  brick 
and  is  well  equipped.  Each  conference  in  the  A.  M. 
E.  connection  is  expected  to  maintain  a  conference 


128  Evidences  of  Progress 

student.  To  this  Seminary,  Bishop  Payne  left  three- 
fifths  of  the  main  portion  of  his  real  estate  for  an  en 
dowment  fund,  and  Bishops  Campbell,  Ward  and 
Wayman  their  valuable  libraries. 

To  the  University  faculty,  of  experienced,  earnest, 
competent,  Christian  instructors,  graduates  mainly  of 
the  University,  and  including  a  Ph.  D.  of  Harvard 
and  a  post-graduate  student  at  Berlin,  is  added  the 
professor  of  military  science  and  tactics  by  the  ap 
pointment  of  the  President  of  the  United  States.  No 
other  colored  institution  in  America  enjoys  such  a 
distinction ;  no  other  colored  officer  has  received 
such  a  promotion. 

Lieutenant  Charles  Young,  the  only  colored  grad 
uate  from  West  Point,  now  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  compe 
tent,  vigorous,  soldierly,  is  achieving  splendid  results 
in  that  department. 

An  examination  of  the  Alumni  Register  will  show 
a  list  of  exceptionally  strong  graduates,  such  as 
Profs.  Scott,  Roberts,  Arnett,  Revs.  Jones,  Ransom, 
Johnson,  Misses  Clark,  Jackson  and  others  who  are 
rapidly  rising  to  prominence  because  they  are  capa 
ble.  It  is  a  high  mark  of  confidence  that  the  presi 
dent  of  the  University  is  called  upon  not  only  to  rec 
ommend  Wilberforce's  trained  workmen  for  impor 
tant  positions,  but  to  send  them  in  answer  to  urgent 
letters  and  telegrams.  Just  recently  Metropolis,  111., 
made  such  a  call  ;  later,  the  Alabama  Normal  and 
Industrial  Institute  summoned  an  instructor  for  its 
agricultural  department.  Now,  a  graduate  of  our  C. 
N.  and  I.  Department  is  pursuing  a  special  course 


Among  Colored  People.  129 

preparatory  to  taking  a  position   in   Prof.  Booker  T. 
Washington's  school  at  Tuskegee,  Ala. 

Wilberforce  University  is  consecrated  to  the 
Christian  enlightenment  of  the  race,  and  the  atten 
dance  grows  larger  from  year  to  year.  In  June,  1900, 
Pres.  S.  T.  Mitchell  resigned  as  President  on  account 
of  failing  health,  and  Rev.  Joshua  H.  Jones,  D.  D.> 
was  elected  in  his  place.  Rev.  Jones  was  born  in 
South  Carolina,  and  received  his  education  at  Claflin 
University,  at  Orangeburg,  S.  C,  and  at  Howard 
University,  Washington,  D.  C.  He  afterwards  took 
his  theological  course  at  Wilberforce,  where  he  is  now 
President.  I  regard  Rev.  Jones  as  a  strong  man, 
who  has  for  years  rendered  the  church  great  service, 
and  I  feel  confident  he  will  make  a  most  excellent 
President  for  the  University,  who  will  doubtless  be 
able  to  still  increase  the  attendance. 

EDWARD    WATERS    COLLEGE. 

The  Edward  Waters  College,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  is 
an  institution  of  learning  founded  in  1885  by  the  A. 
M.  E.  Church  in  Florida,  and  has  been  sustained  and 
operated  by  that  organization  ever  since.  Its  object 
is  to  give  the  Negro  youth  of  its  section  a  thorough 
training  both  intellectually  and  industrially.  Its 
courses  of  study  extend  from  that  of  the  Grammar 
School  to  the  College.  Some  instruction  has  been 
given  in  sewing,  printing  and  tailoring;  but  the  au 
thorities  recognize  the  fact  that  in  order  to  reach  the 
great  mass  of  colored  people  in  the  South,  and  do 

the  greatest  good,  the  school  must  make  it  possible 
9 


1 30 


Evidences  of  Progress 


to  give  a  student  a  trade  along  with  his  college 
course.  This  serves  several  purposes:  it  helps  the 
student  through  school,  teaches  him  to  rely  upon  his 
own  powers,  and  gives  something  to  lean  upon 
he  has  gone  from  school. 


PROF.    A.    ST.    GEORGE    RICHARDSON,    B.  A. 

The  president  receives  numerous  letters  every  year 
from  young  men  and  women  who  desire  an  educa 
tion,  but  are  too  poor  to  pay  their  way.  They  are 
willing  to  work,  but  he  has  not  sufficient  for  them. 
Hence,  every  year  scores  of  worthy  young  men  and 


Among  Colored  People.  131 

women,  eager  to  obtain  an  education,  are  turned 
away. 

Prof.  Richardson  is  now  making  an  earnest  appeal 
to  the  friends  of  education  and  progress  everywhere 
to  charitably  help  him  build  up  an  industrial  depart 
ment  to  his  school,  in  which  he  can  teach  the  young 
men  and  women  who  apply,  some  of  the  useful 
trades,  thus  helping  them  to  become  more  worthy  citi 
zens.  Grateful  acknowledgment  of  all  amounts  re 
ceived  will  be  made  in  their  annual  catalogue. 

They  now  have  an  excellent  three-story  brick 
building,  and  two  board  structures,  a  strong  faculty, 
and  usually  enroll  more  than  200  students.  Any 
thing  that  will  help  them  to  broaden  their  field  of 
usefulness  or  increase  their  facilities  for  doing  the  best 
work  in  the  best  way,  will  be  highly  appreciated. 

PROF.    A.    ST.    GEORGE    RICHARDSON,    B.  A. 

A.  St.  George  Richardson,  President  of  Edward 
Waters  College,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  is  regarded  by 
all  who  know  him  as  one  of  the  bright  young  men 
of  the  race  who  has  by  hard  work  acquired  a  splendid 
education. 

KITTRELL    COLLEGE. 

This  school  now  ranks  as  one  of  the  best  in  the 
South,  being  conducted  on  the  plan  of  combining  the 
education  of  heart,  head  and  hand.  Founded  in 
1886  and  incorporated  in  1887,  the  growth  of  the 
school  from  year  to  year  has  been  most  remarkable 
and  it  bids  fair  to  still  greater  usefulness.  This  school 


132 


Evidences  of  Progress 


is  located  at  Kittrell,  N.  C.     The  school  property  is 
valued  at  $15,000,  consisting  of  sixty  acres  of  land 
and  four  buildings,  with  livestock  of  most  kinds. 
The  work  is  so  arranged  as  to  give  all  students 


J?ROF.   JOHN   R.   HAWKINS,  A.  M. 

a  chance  to  woik  out  a  part  of  their  schooling,  and 
at  the  same  time  pursue  their  regular  course  of 
study  in  either  the  Scientific,  Normal  or  Intermediate 
Departments. 

The  principal  of  this    institute  is  Joseph  S.  Wil 
liams,  A.  M.,  who  is  devoted  to  his  work  and  pushes  it 


Among  Colored  People.  133 

with  courage  and  vigor.  There  are  associated  with  Mr. 
Williams  seven  teachers  and  officers,  all  of  whom  are 
in  sympathy  with  their  leader  and  stand  by  him 
in  the  belief  that  a  very  high  standard  of  excellence 
should  be  maintained  in  all  school  work.  The  school 
is  largely  dependent  upon  the  charitable  public  for 
support,  and  has  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
many  benevolent  friends  who  are  able  to  help  sup 
port  it. 

At  the  last  General  Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  held  in  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  in  May  of  1896., 
Mr.  John  R.  Hawkins,  the  founder  of  Kittrell 
Institute,  was  elected  as  the  secretary  of  education  of 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  This  is  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  the  Church  that  a  layman  has  held  this 
position.  But  his  election  to  this  place  is  due  entirely 
to  his  most  excellent  fitness  for  the  position.  Mr. 
Hawkins  is  now  reaping  the  reward  that  always 
comes  in  the  end  to  those  who  are  worthy.  He 
has  been  a  hard  student  all  his  life,  and  many  a 
night  when  other  young  men  were  seeking  amuse 
ments,  or  asleep,  Mr.  Hawkins  could  have  been 
found  in  the  late  hours  of  night  hard  at  work  over 
his  books.  He  has  to-day  an  honored  position,  while 
some  of  his  associates  have  gone  to  the  bad.  I  am 
told  Mr.  Hawkins  has,  since  his  election  as  secretary 
of  education,  been  able  to  very  much  enlarge  the 
educational  work  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  and  in 
crease  the  amount  of  money  given  for  connectional 
schools  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 


134  Evidences  of  Progress 

ALLEN    UNIVERSITY. 

Allen  University  is  the  outgrowth  of  Payne  Insti 
tute,  which  was  established  in  the  romantic  and 
historic  town  of  Cokesbury,  S.  C,  July  29,  1870* 

Allen  University,  established  Dec.  24,  1880,  is 
pleasantly  situated  in  the  eastern  suburbs  of  the  city 
of  Columbia,  S.  C.,  and  comprises  four  acres  of  ex 
cellent  ground,  four  cottages,  and  one  main  building, 
which  has  forty-two  rooms.  The  Girls'  Industrial 
Hall  is  considered  one  of  the  finest  structures  in  the 
State.  It  is  a  silent  but  eloquent  monument  of  the 
zeal,  labor,  ability,  unselfish  devotion  of  Negroes  de 
voted  to  the  cause  of  Christian  education.  All 
efforts  that  are  the  results  of  Negro  self-dependence 
should  always  merit  our  devotion  and  steadfast  en 
couragement.  The  departments  are  as  follows : 
Theological,  Law,  Classical,  Normal,  Musical,  Inter 
mediate,  Graded,  and  Domestic  Enconomy. 

Rev.  David  Henry  Johnson,  D.  D.,  is  president  of 
Allen  University.  He  is  a  fine  scholar  and  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  educators. 

WAYMAN    INSTITUTE. 

Wayman  Institute  is  located  at  Harrodsburg,  Ky. 
The  course  of  studies  taught  there  are  College  Pre 
paratory,  English,  Theological,  Normal,  Music,  Do 
mestic  Economy.  This  institution  takes  its  name 
from  the  late  Bishop  A.  W.  Wayman,  in  whose  honor 
it  was  built.  The  president,  Rev.  I.  H.  Welch,  D.  D., 
is  a  very  able  man  and  will  doubtless  make  Wayman 
Institute  one  of  the  leading  schools  of  the  connection. 


Among  Colored  People.  135 

He  has  been  for  years  one  of  the  prominent  pastors 
of  the  church.  As  a  scholar  he  ranks  among  the 
leading  men  of  the  race,  and  is  in  every  way  prepared 
for  the  work  he  now  has  in  hand. 

In  that  part  of  Kentucky  the  A.  M.  E.  Church 
has  a  large  membership,  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  an  A.  M.  E.  school  should  not  succeed  in 
building  up  a  large  work.  Harrodsburg  is  situated 
in  the  very  best  part  of  Kentucky  as  far  as  the 
wealth  of  the  State  is  concerned,  and  .there  are 
many  well-to-do  people  in  that  section  of  the 
State. 

MORRIS  BROWN  COLLEGE. 

The  site  upon  which  these  buildings,  Morris 
Brown  College,  are  erected,  was  purchased  by  W.  J. 
Gaines,  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  February,  1881 — now  bishop. 

He   paid   the  first  $1,000  out  of  his  own  pocket. 

This  ground  was  bought  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  The 
buildings  and  grounds  now  are  worth  $7,500.  It 
contains  four  acres  of  ground,  fronts  three  streets, 
Boulevard,  Houston  and  Howell,  and  is  situated  in 
the  heart  of  Atlanta.  The  money  to  buy  and  com 
plete  these  buildings  was  raised  by  the  Georgia, 
North  Georgia,  and  Macon,  Ga.,  Conferences. 
Bishop  Gaines  raised  a  good  deal  of  money  by  sub 
scriptions.  He  raised  $2,600  by  advertisement  with 
James  Armstrong  Soap  Company,  Baltimore,  Md. 
The  first  building,  which  fronts  Houston  street,  was 
erected  while  the  bishop  was  presiding  elder  of 
Atlanta  District.  The  other  building  was  erected 


£36  Evidences  of  Progress 

after  he  was  elected  bishop  in  1888  and  appointed  to 
the  Sixth  Episcopal  District. 

When  the  bishop  left  the  district  there  was  $3,500 
indebtedness  upon  the  property. 

The  bishop  says  he  owes  lasting  gratitude  to  the 
ministers  of  the  three  Georgia  Conferences  for  stand 
ing  by  him  in  this  the  greatest  struggle  of  his  life. 

The  number  of  students  is  now  between  300  and 
400. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  Morris  Brown 
College  it  is  to  have  a  president  in  the  person  of 
Rev.  James  M.  Henderson,  D.  D.,  an  exceedingly 
able  man.  He  graduated  from  Oberlin  College, 
Ohio,  with  fine  honor.  Is  also  a  graduate  in  law 
and  theology.  Morris  Brown  must  under  the 
management  of  such  a  man  become  one  of  the  great 
schools  for  the  education  of  the  Colored  outh.  Mr. 
Henderson  is  the  choice  of  Bishop  H.  M.  Turner, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  now  in  charge  of  the  diocese  Morris 
Brown  College  is  in.  Mr.  Henderson  began  his 
work  at  this  school  in  the  fall  session  of  1896. 

PAUL    QUINN    COLLEGE. 

REV.    I.    M.    BURGAN,  A.    M.,    PRESIDENT. 

Paul  Quinn  College  is  not  the  result  of  an  impulse, 
but  of  well-considered  promptings.  While  the  estab 
lishment  of  the  school  in  its  present  scope  may  be 
dated  from  1881,  the  real  beginning  of  the  institu 
tion  took  place  in  Austin,  in  1874,  when,  after  dis 
cussion  and  prayer,  it  was  decided  to  found  a  "  Con 
ference  High  School"  in  Austin,  which  was  done. 


Among  Colored  People.  137 

It  was  thought  best,  however,  to  broaden  the 
purpose  of  the  school  and  locate  it  in  the  town  or 
city  that  offered  the  best  inducements.  Several 
places  vied  for  the  location,  and  after  a  very  inter 
esting  canvass  of  the  State,  Waco,  by  reasons  of 
liberal  donations,  eligible  and  beautiful  situation,  was 
chosen  as  the  site. 

The  promoters  were,  in  the  main,  uneducated 
men,  with  no  experience  in,  and  but  little  observa 
tion  of,  school  matters ;  but  all  were  impressed  with 
two  things:  first,  the  necessity  of  a  school  for 
higher  learning  in  Texas  ;  secondly,  the  need  of  the 
negro's  assuming  responsibility  and  depending  upon 
self-help,  if  he  would  ever  reach  the  full  stature  of 
manhood.  While  grateful  for  schools  established  in 
the  South  by  members  of  the  other  race,  and  appre 
ciating  fully  their  benefactions,  the  founders  of  Paul 
Quinn  thought  that  self-reliance  was  an  essential 
part  of  a  perfect  education,  and  that  could  only 
come  through  the  onus  of  managing  enterprises  call 
ing  for  sacrifice,  planning,  devising,  suffering,  triumph 
ing,  in  the  first  person. 

Paul  Quinn  College  is  under  Negro  management, 
and  is  doing  as  much  as  any  institution  in  the  land 
to  teach  the  lesson  of  self-help.  It  is  an  object 
lesson  of  Negro  capacity  to  plan,  manage,  and  pro 
mote  enterprises  involving  self-denial  and  hard  work. 

The  growth  of  the  school  has  been  steady  and 
solid.  Bishop  Atticus  G.  Haygood,  while  agent  for 
the  Slater  fund,  visited  it  and  said  it  was  the  best 
managed  and  conducted  school  he  had  seen, 


138  Evidences  of  Progress 

The  school  property  consists  of  twenty  acres  of 
land,  worth  $65,000;  two  brick  buildings  and  one 
brick  addition  ;  ten  frame  buildings;  eight  teachers ; 
225  students  enrolled. 

For  the  second  time  in  the  history  of  this  school 
Rev.  I.  M.  Burgan,  A.  M.,  has  been  elected  as  Presi 
dent  of  Paul  Quinn  College.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
Wilberforce,  and  the  institution  has  just  cause  to  be 
proud  of  him.  His  election  this  time  is  to  succeed 
Prof.  H.  T.  Kealing,  who  was  elected  as  editor  of  the 
A.  M.  E.  Revieiv.  The  fact  that  Mr.  Burgin  has 
been  the  second  time  placed  at  the  head  of  this 
institution  speaks  well  for  his  ability  as  an  educator. 

WESTERN      UNIVERSITY,      QUINDARO,     WYANDOTTE      CO., 

KANSAS. 

This  institution  is  pleasantly  located  about  four 
miles  from  Kansas  City,  Kans.,  on  a  high  bluff  over 
looking;  the  Missouri  River.  The  location  is  one  of 

o 

the  healthiest  centres  in  one  of  the  healthiest  States 
in  the  American  Union.  It  is  in  easy  walking  dis 
tance  from  the  West  Side  Electric  Line  and  has  the 
advantages  accruing  to  a  suburb  of  a  great  metrop 
olis.  It  offers  a  full  course  of  instruction  in  the 
following  departments  : 

Theological,  Preparatory  Normal,  Normal  In 
dustrial  and  Collegiate. 

Western  University :  tuition,  room  rent,  fuel  and 
board  eight  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  school  month 
in  advance.  Each  room  is  comfortably  furnished, 


Among  Colored  People.  139 

Students   are   expected    to    bring    bedclothes    and 
towels. 

The  president  of  Western  University  at  this  time 
is  Rev.  W.  T.  Vernon,  A.  M.,  who  is  regarded  as  an 
able  man  for  the  place. 

CAMPBELL-STRINGER    COLLEGE,    JACKSON,    MISSISSIPPI. 

Campbell  and  Stringer  College  owes  its  existence 
to  the  policy  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  to  establish  schools  in  every  State  where  its 
membership  is  very  large.  The  movement  was  in 
augurated  in  1887,  headed  by  the  chartered  trustees 
and  located  in  the  cities  of  Vicksburg  and  Friars 
Point,  where  for  a  number  of  years  they  remained. 
Owing  to  their  unfavorable  location,  and  in  order 
that  the  endowment  of  the  church  would  not  be  di 
vided  between  several  educational  institutions, through 
the  wisdom  of  Rt.  Rev.  W.  B.  Derrick,  D.  D.,  Bishop 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  presiding  over  the  Eighth 
Episcopal  District,  and  the  trustees  of  said  colleges, 
it  was  agreed  upon  to  unite  these  two  institutions  of 
learning,  and  locate  them  in  the  city  of  Jackson. 

The  progress  of  the  college  is  due  to  the  active 
service  of  the  ministers  and  laymen  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church  in  Mississippi,  who  have  given  labor  and 
money  to  promote  liberal  learning  in  its  borders,  in 
the  effort  of  elevating  those  of  the  race  who  pre 
viously  have  been  deprived  of  the  opportunities  now 
offered  them. 

We  plan  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  negro  youth 
of  the  last  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century  in  offer- 


140  Evidences  of  Progress 

ing  them  the  advantages  of  an  English,  Classical, 
Theological,  Missionary,  and  Industrial  education. 
It  aims  to  give  ample  preparation  to  young  men  and 
women  for  personal  success  and  usefulness,  and  it 
endeavors  to  correct  the  effects  of  too  great  special 
ization  on  the  one  hand  and  extreme  diffusion  on  the 
other. 

The  College  campus  is  on  the  highest  point  of 
ground  in  West  Jackson,  at  foot  of  Lynch  Street. 
Nature  and  art  have  combined  to  make  the  surround 
ings  pleasant  and  attractive.  During  the  summer 
months  it  is  one  of  the  most  inviting  spots  in  the  city. 

The  main  building  is  a  good  substantial  frame 
structure,  two  and  a-half  stones  high.  In  this  build 
ing  are  the  chapel,  the  library,  the  halls  for  the 
literary  societies,  also  recitation  rooms.  The  school 
is  near  a  large  number  of  African  Methodists,  and 
will  be  a  great  help  to  the  church  in  that  part  of  the 
South. 

Rev.  Daniel  Hunter  Butler,  D.  D.,  who  at  this 
time  is  President  of  Campbell  College,  is  a  native  of 
Mississippi,  having  been  born  of  slave  parents.  His 
early  life  was  one  of  privation  and  suffering,  having 
lost  his  parents  while  young.  He  worked  his  way 
through  school,  and  graduated  with  high  honors 
at  Jackson  College,  located  at  Jackson,  Miss.  He  at 
one  time  attended  Oberlin  College,  at  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
but  could  not  remain  for  want  of  funds. 

Rev.  Butler  has  been  a  very  successful  teacher  and 
pastor.  He  has  been  principal  of  some  of  the  large 
public  schools  in  both  Mississippi,  Alabama  and 
Tennessee.  As  a  pastor  he  has  had  charge  of  some 


Among  Colored  People. 


141 


of  the  leading  churches  in  Atlanta  and  other  large 
towns  of  the  South. 

His  theological  training  was  received  at  Gammon 
Theological    Seminary.     Since    Prof.    Butler    took 


REV.    DANIEL   HUNTER   BUTLER,    D.  D. 


charge  of  Campbell  College  the  school  has  taken 
on  new  life,  and  the  attendance  has  been  increased 
very  much,  and  the  outlook  for  the  school  is  much 
brighter. 


142  Evidences  of  Progress 

PAYNE   UNIVERSITY. 

Payne  University  is  located  at  Selma,  Ala.  It  is 
now  being  conducted  in  a  frame  building,  and  is  well 
attended.  The  school  is  in  a  part  of  the  South 
where  the  African  Methodist  Church  has  a  large 
membership,  and  as  a  connectional  school  will  do 
great  good.  The  courses  of  study  are  College,  Nor 
mal  and  Academic.  Prof.  J.  S.  Moten,  A.  M.,  LL.  B., 
is  president  of  Payne  University,  and  is  regarded  by 
all  who  know  him  as  a  fine  scholar.  He  has  had 
charge  of  this  work  for  several  years,  and  the  school 
has  grown  both  in  attendance  and  popularity  under 
his  management.  Prof.  Moten  is  assisted  by  his  very 
able  and  accomplished  wife,  besides  other  able 
teachers.  I  was  very  favorably  impressed  with  the 
school  as  a  power  for  good. 

SHORTER    COLLEGE. 

Shorter  College  is  located  at  Argenta,  Ark.,  and 
is  a  great  help  to  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  in  that  State. 
They  have  a  splendid  frame  building  and  an  able 
body  of  teachers.  Courses  there  are  College,  Nor 
mal,  Classical  English,  Theological  and  Industrial. 
The  school  is  indeed  fortunate  in  having  Dr.  Thos. 
H.  Jackson  as  its  president,  as  he  is  known  to 
be  one  of  the  best  scholars  in  the  United  States,  and 
will  be  a  great  blessing  to  the  school  and  church  in 
that  section  of  the  South. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

A.  M.  E.  ZION  SCHOOL. 

IN  this  chapter  I  present  a  brief  history  of  the  great 
work  started  by  the  late  Dr.  J.  C.  Price.  This  in 
stitution  is  one  of  great  interest. 

LIVINGSTONE   COLLEGE. 

Among  the  evidences  of  Negro  ability  to  establish 
and  control  great  institutions,  we  have  no  better  ex 
ample  than  Livingstone  College.  In  a  quiet,  anti 
quated-looking  town  of  historic  connection  with  those 
stirring  times  of  our  American  Revolution,  and  with 
those  more  than  rebellious  times  of  our  country's 
civil  strife,  where  the  Confederate  Government  in 
humanly  treated  Union  soldiers  in  one  of  their  most 
noted  prison-pens,  in  the  town  of  Salisbury,  N.  C., 
and  under  the  shadow  of  that  prison,  is  Livingstone 
College — the  pride  of  a  great  church,  an  honor  to  the 
Negro  race.  This  institution  stands  as  a  towering 
monument  to  the  heroes  of  that  bloody  struggle 
whose  lives  were  lost  for  their  country's  sake  and  to 
make  an  enslaved  people  free. 

The  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  had  long  desired  an 
institution  for  a  thorough  education  of  its  children, 
and  accordingly  a  school  under  the  auspices  of  the 
North  Carolina  Conference  was  started  in  1879  in 
the  town  of  Concord,  N.  C.  It  was  incorporated 

(143) 


144 


Evidences  of  Progress 


under  the  name  of  Zion  Wesley  Institute,  and  after 
two  sessions,  depending  upon  collections  from  the 
churches  of  that  conference,  it  was  forced  to  close 


THE  LATE  REV.    J.  C.  PRICE,    A.M.,  D.  D., 

President  of  Livingstone  College,  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

its  doors.  Therefore  it  was  in  May,  1881,  when  it 
became  apparent  that  the  school  must  close — then 
being  taught  by  Prof.  A.  S.  Richardson.  The 
Ecumenical  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Church  was 
held  this  year  in  England  and  in  this  month  of  May. 
Bishop  J.  W.  Hood,  D.  D.,  who  was  president  of  the 


Among  Colored  People.  145 

Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Institute,  and  Rev.  J,  C. 
Price,  with  other  representatives  of  the  Zion  Church, 
were  in  attendance. 

Bishop  Hood,  recognizing  the  ability  of  Dr.  Price, 
who  was  then  a  young  man  just  out  of  school,  pre 
vailed  upon  him  to  become  an  agent  for  the  school 
and  to  remain  in  England  after  the  close  of  the  con 
ference. 

During  the  conference  Dr.  Price  made  himself 
famous  among  the  delegates  and  visitors  as  an  elo 
quent  orator  and  after  its  close  had  no  trouble  in 
getting  before  the  English  people,  who  welcomed 
him  everywhere  and  responded  to  his  appeals  in  a 
sum  amounting  to  $9,100.  This,  of  course,  was  great 
encouragement  to  the  Trustees  and  the  Church.  The 
congregation  of  the  Zion  Church,  in  Concord,  offered 
seven  acres  of  land  for  a  site  to  erect  buildings  and 
locate  the  school  permanently.  But  the  trustees  de 
cided  that  Salisbury  would  be  a  more  favorable 
place  and  the  school  was  located  in  that  city. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1882  that  Bishops  Hood 
and  Lomax,  with  $3,000  of  the  money  raised  by 
Prof.  Price  in  England  and  $1,000  donated  by  the 
business  men  of  Salisbury,  purchased  the  site  now 
occupied  by  Livingstone  College.  There  was  on  the 
place  one  two-story  building  with  ten  rooms  includ 
ing  basement.  The  tract  of  land  consisted  of  forty 
acres  and  the  total  cost  of  the  place  amounted  to 
$4,600. 

The  Board  of  Bishops  at  the  meeting  in  ChesterP 
S.  C.,  in  September,  1882,  adopted  Zion  Wesley  In- 

10 


146  Evidences  of  Progress. 

stitute  as  a  connectional  school,  electing  a  faculty 
with  Rev.  J.  C.  Price,  president,  Rev.  C.  R.  Harris, 
Prof.  E.  Moore,  instructors ;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Harris  as 
matron. 

October  9,  1882,  the  Institute  was  opened  on  its 
own  premises  in  Salisbury.  The  name  was  soon 
changed  to  Zion  Wesley  College,  and  in  '86  or  '87 
became  Livingstone  College,  in  honor  of  the  great 
African  explorer,  David  Livingtone. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  mention  here  that 
the  president  and  faculty  felt  that  in  the  scope  of  the 
work  the  institution  aimed  to  do,  it  would  be  less 
hampered  by  the  new  name.  The  wisdom  of  this 
has  doubtless  been  seen  by  those  intimately  associated 
with  the  College. 

The  first  day  the  school  opened  there  were  five 
day  students,  but  no  boarders.  About  the  middle  of 
October  the  first  student  from  abroad  came — Miss 
Lizzie  Williams,  of  Newbern,  N.  C.  When  the 
session  closed,  however,  there  were  in  all  ninety- 
three  students.  A  small  frame  building  (16x40)  for 
boys  had  been  erected  and  the  girls  were  crowded 
in  rooms  with  two  beds  each,  and  so  great  was  the 
need  for  rooms  that  they  were  compelled  in  some  in 
stances  to  sleep  three  in  a  bed. 

When  the  second  session  began,  another  teacher 
was  added,  this  being  necessary  because  the  president 
was  required  to  travel  and  solicit  donations.  Dr.  W. 
H.  Goler,  a  personal  friend  and  college-mate  of  the 
president,  was  the  teacher  added.  The  institution 
was  very  much  strengthened  by  this  new  addition, 


148 


Evidences  of  Progress 


for,  besides  the  literary  advantages  to  the  school,  the 
business  tact  of  Dr.  Goler,  as  well  as  his  practical 
knowledge  along  certain  industrial  lines,  made  the 
addition  very  valuable.  It  mav  be  well  to  mention 


KKV.  \V.  H.  GOLER,  D.  D. 

here  that  Dr.  Goler  had  the  distinction  of  preaching 
the  first  annual  or  baccalaureate  sermon,  and  the  late 
Bishop  S.  T.  Jones  of  delivering  the  first  annual 
address. 

In   the  middle    of  the  second  session,  when   the 


Among  Colored  People.  149 

number  of  students  reached  120,  the  building  for 
boys  was  taken  for  girls  and  rented  houses  in  the 
community  were  provided  for  the  boys.  This  meant 
to  the  young  men  inconvenience  and  a  sacrifice 
of  comfortable  quarters,  but  they  were  in  full  sym 
pathy  with  the  school  and  its  struggles,  and  bore  the 
hardships  without  a  murmur.  These  days  are  often 
referred  to  as  the  "Dark  Days "  of  Livingstone 
College  for  both  teachers  and  students.  Then  it  was 
that  some  of  the  teachers  were  laboring  without 
knowing  what  they  would  receive  for  salary,  and  Dr. 
Goler  often  says  "  he  never  received  a  penny  during 
his  first  year's  work." 

The  faithful  discharge  of  duty  by  Prof.  Moore, 
Prof.  Harris  (now  Bishop  Harris),  Mrs.  Harris  as 
matron,  and  Prof.  Goler,  was  of  incalculable  value  to 
the  president  in  these  struggling  years  of  the  school 
for  existence. 

In  1884  an  addition  (42  x  56)  was  made  to  the  orig 
inal  ten-room  house,  for  a  chapel,  a  dining  room  and 
dormitories  for  girls.  Mr.  C.  P.  Huntington  was  the 
chief  donor,  and  the  building,  "Huntington  Hall,"  is 
named  for  him.  The  dimensions  of  the  building  are 
91  x  38.  It  is  four  stories  high,  including  basement. 

In  the  fall  of  1885  the  necessity  for  more  buildings 
caused  Dr.  Price  to  visit  the  Pacific  coast.  After 
lecturing  about  four  months  he  secured  the  donation 
of  $5,OOO  from  the  late  Senator  Leland  Stanford  and 
$1,000  from  Mrs.  Mark  Hopkins.  The  entire  amount 
collected  by  Dr.  Price  on  the  coast  was  about 
$9,000.  Only  a  little  over  $1,000  was  needed 


150  Evidences  of  Progress 

to  make  up  the  sum  of  $20,000.  The  Hon.  Wm.  E. 
Dodge,  who  had  assisted  Mr.  Price  through  school, 
promised  him  a  donation  of  $5,000  if  he  should  raise 
that  sum.  Mr.  Price  lost  no  time  in  securing  the 
residue  and  Mr.  Dodge  kept  his  word. 

In  March,  1886,  ground  was  broken  for  the  erec 
tion  of  a  dormitory  for  boys — Dodge  Hall — a  four- 
story  brick  building  60x40,  and  a  four-story  brick, 
100x40,  for  girls,  known  as  Hopkins  Hall,  forming  a 
nucleus  to  Stanford  Seminary.  It  will  be  observed 
that  all  these  buildings  are  named  for  their  principal 
donors. 

In  1887,  Mr.  Stephen  F.  Ballard  of  New  York 
erected  the  Ballard  Industrial  Hall  (60  x  39)  and  fitted 
it  up  with  complete  outfits  for  the  department  of 
carpentry,  shoemaking  and  printing.  The  entire  val 
uation  of  the  buildings  and  grounds  (now  about  fifty 
acres)  is  estimated  at  $IOO,OOO.  • 

The  aim  of  the  school  has  been  to  give  a  thorough 
literary  training  to  colored  young  men  and  women. 
The  industrial  feature  has  not  been  neglected, although 
recently  the  school  has  not  been  able  to  do  as  much 
in  that  line  as  formerly.  The  reason  for  this  has 
been  the  withdrawal  of  the  Slater  Fund.  However, 
mis  department  has  been  operating  with  such  means 
as  the  officers  have  been  able  to  obtain.  The  students 
in  the  carpentry  shop  make  and  repair  all  the  furni 
ture  used  irt  the  school,  such  as  bedsteads,  chairs, 
tables,  desks,  washstands  and  dressers.  The  printing 
office  is  well  equipped  and  much  minute  and 
pamphlet  work  has  been  done  besides  the  publish- 


Among  Colored  People.  151 

ing  of  the  College  journal,  which  is  now  conceded  to 
be  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best,  College  magazine 
published  by  a  colored  institution  in  the  country. 
The.  institution  has  been  running  but  little  over  a 
decade.  It  boasts,  however,  of  a  prominence  equal  to 
any  institution  in  the  south  founded  and  sustained  by 
colored  men.  The  character  of  its  graduates  and  the 
showing  they  have  made  bespeak  the  thoroughness 
of  its  work.  In  fact,  the  officers  of  the  institution, 
while  recognizing  the  need  and  the  cry  for  the  in 
dustrial  training  of  the  Negro,  have  stoutly  main 
tained  that  industrial  education  should  not  supplant 
the  higher  educational  development  of  the  Negro. 
The  success  of  the  130  graduates  since  '85  has  been 
sufficient  argument  for  them  to  hold  this  point. 

The  young  men  who  have  entered  the  ministry  are 
all  prominent  in  the  great  church  under  whose  aus 
pices  the  school  works.  Many  of  the  largest  and 
most  prominent  churches  in  the  connection  are  held 
by  them,  and  they  have  merited  each  place.  In  the 
law  and  in  medicine  they  are  not  behind,  and  in  the 
schoolroom  as  teachers,  many  brilliant  records  have 
been  made  by  its  young  men  and  women.  As 
teachers,  they  are  in  demand,  and  in  most  cases  give 
entire  satisfaction. 

The  work  of  Dr.  Price,  in  his  efforts  to  lift  the  race 
to  a  higher  plane  of  intellectual  and  moral  develop 
ment,  is  well  known  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 
To  speak  of  Livingstone  and  its  aim  is  to  speak  of 
the  one  great  desire  of  its  lamented  president.  So 
thoroughly  wedded  was  he  to  this  idea  and  its 


152  Evidences  of  Progress 

development  through  the  work  of  Livingstone  College 
that  no  honor  in  church  or  state,  however  tempting 
the  emolument  attached  to  it,  could  induce  him  to 
give  it  up. 

His  great  influence  rests  upon  his  successor  and 
his  associates — ten  in  number.  These  are  making 
noble  self-sacrifices  to  carry  on  the  work. 

The  maintenance  of  this  work  is  wonderful  when 
it  is  remembered  that  Livingstone  has  no  endowment 
fund  for  teachers,  no  scholarship  fund  for  students, 
and  only  a  small  appropriation  from  the  church 
under  whose  auspices  it  is  operated — only  a  little 
over  half  of  this  being  received  annually  to  carry  on 
the  work  and  pay  teachers. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Price  occurred  Oct.  25,  1893. 
To  him  directly  is  due  the  permanent  establishment 
of  the  institution. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Goler,  the  new  president,  took  charge 
with  a  vim  that  delighted  all.  His  ability,  his  friend 
ship  for  and  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Price,  and  his  ex 
perience  give  him  a  confidence  that  makes  success 
doubly  sure. 

During  the  past  five  or  six  years  the  school  has 
averaged  an  enrolment  of  over  200  students.  The 
enrolment  one  year  was  about  300.  Students  rep 
resenting  New  England,  Michigan,  Missouri,  Ken 
tucky,  Illinois,  and  all  the  States  along  the  coast, 
from  Massachusetts  to  Florida,  as  well  as  Alabama, 
Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Arkansas  and  Tennessee,  have 
been  enrolled.  Besides  these,  representatives  of 


Among  Colored  People.  153 

Liberia,  West  coast  of  Africa,  and  the  West  Indies 
are  among  the  number. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Price  was  a  great  blow  to  Living 
stone.  Its  friends  were  thrown  into  a  state  of  anx 
iety  for  its  future.  But  many  believed  that  Price's 
work  was  accomplished  when  he  demonstrated  to 
the  world  his  practical  production  of  his  great  lec 
ture — "  Negro  Capabilities."  When  Livingstone 
started,  the  world  had  not  learned  that  a  College 
could  be  established  and  controlled  entirely  by 
Negroes. 

CLINTON    INSTITUTE. 

Clinton  Institute  is  located  south  of  Rock  Hill, 
S.  C.,  in  a  section  of  the  State  densely  populated 
with  colored  people. 

I  was  very  much  impressed  with  the  work  done 
at  Clinton  Institute.  The  school  is  under  the 
auspices  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  connection,  but  has 
some  help  from  outside.  Prof.  R.  J.  Crokett,  who  is 
president  of  the  school,  is  a  graduate  of  Livingstone 
College,  and  is  a  most  excellent  and  worthy  young 
man.  The  school  has  a  graded  department,  in 
which  are  taught  the  ordinary  and  higher  English 
branches.  It  has  a  normal  department,  in  which  are 
taught  some  of  the  sciences,  and  in  which  is  the 
practice  school  for  young  teachers — who  work  in  the 
more  rural  districts.  It  has  an  industrial  department, 
in  which  it  is  designed  to  introduce  all  the  industrial 
arts  that  are  of  practical  benefit  to  the  colored  people 
in  the  South. 


CHAPTER  IX 

PRESBYTERIAN  SCHOOLS  MANAGED  BY  WHITE  PEOPLE. 

IT  is  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to  note,  in  these 
sketches,  the  splendid  work  done  by  the  Presbyterian 
Church  for  the  education  of  the  colored  people. 

LINCOLN  UNIVERSITY. 
Rev.  I.  N.  Randall,  D.  D.,  President. 

Among  the  instrumentalities  through  which  the 
friends  of  the  Negro  may  convey  to  him  the  blessings 
of  education,  Lincoln  University  especially  deserves 
the  confidence  of  the  Christian  public.  She  was  the 
first  to  enter  this  field.  Lincoln  University  was 
chartered  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  to  give  a 
liberal  Scientific,  Classical  and  Theological  education 
to  colored  youth  of  the  male  sex  in  1854,  six  years 
before  the  war  which  resulted  in  emancipation.  The 
school  is  located  in  Chester  county,  half  a  mile  from 
Lincoln  University  Station.  A  liberal  Christian  edu 
cation  was  the  policy  adopted  by  Lincoln  University 
for  the  elevation  of  our  colored  population  before  the 
body  of  them  became  freedmen. 

Four  hundred  and  ninety-five  have  been  graduated 
from  the  Collegiate  Department,  after  a  course  of 
instruction  extending  through  four  and,  in  many 
cases,  seven  years.  Most  of  these  graduates  are  en 
gaged  in  professional  and  educational  labors  in  the 
Southern  States.  Two  hundred  and  sixteen  of  the 


Among  Colored  People.  155 

students  of  Lincoln  University  have  received  ordina 
tion  as  ministers  in  Evangelical  Protestant  denomina 
tions.  Thirteen  students  have  gone  to  Africa  as 
missionaries.  Three  young  men  from  Liberia  are 
now  in  the  University. 

Such  men  as  J.  C.  Price,  W.  H.  Goler  and  hundreds 
of  others  are  the  class  of  men  educated  at  Lincoln 
University.  There  can  be  no  question  but  that  this 
institution  has  accomplished  more  for  the  colored 
people  both  North  and  South  than  any  other  north 
of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line. 

SCOTIA  SEMINARY. 

Scotia  Seminary  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
schools  I  have  ever  visited.  It  was  founded  to  bring 
within  the  reach  of  colored  girls  in  and  about  Con 
cord,  N.  C.,  where  it  is  located,  the  advantages  of  a 
thorough  Christian  education  and  to  aid  in  building 
up  the  Presbyterian  Church  among  the  colored 
people.  It  is  chartered  by  the  State  of  North  Caro 
lina.  Says  Rev.  D.  J.  Satterfield,  D.  D.,  the  presi 
dent: 

"Our  aim  has  always  been  to  appeal  to  the  nobler 
natures  of  our  students  in  order  to  secure  compliance 
with  our  wishes.  Our  rules  prohibit  what  is  unlady 
like  and  disorderly  and  require  only  what  is  necessary 
to  provide  for  the  mental,  moral  and  physical  welfare 
of  all. 

"  For  the  enforcement  of  these  rules  we  hold 
students  as  well  as  teachers  responsible.  We  pro 
pose  to  maintain  a  moral  sentiment  in  the  school, 


156  Evidences  of  Progress 

which  will  make  anything  vulgar  or  vicious  so  much 
out  of  place  here,  that  it  cannot  stay." 

MARY   ALLEN    SEMINARY. 

This  institution  is  located  at  Crockett,  Texas, 
and  was  founded  by  Mrs.  Mary  Allen,  who  was  a 
true  friend  to  the  colored  people,  and  especially  to 
colored  women.  The  purpose  of  this  school  is  to 
train  up  colored  women  in  such  arts  and  sciences  as 
are  taught  in  schools  of  high  grade,  in  all  kinds  of 
domestic  duties.  Rev.  Jno.  B.  Smith,  D.  D.,  is  pres 
ident,  and  he  is  assisted  by  an  able  body  of  teachers. 

MARY    HOLMES    SEMINARY. 

Mary  Holmes  was  founded  and  is  now  sustained  by 
the  Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen  of  the  Presby 
terian  Church.  The  school  was  first  located  at 
Jackson,  Miss.,  and  was  built  as  a  memorial  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Holmes,  wife  of  Rev.  Mead  Holmes,  of  Rock- 
ford,  111.  The  buildings  at  Jackson  were  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  the  school  was  then  moved  to  West 
Point,  Miss.  The  object  of  this  institution  is  the 
higher  education  for  colored  women.  Rev.  H.  N. 
Payne,  D.  D.,  is  president. 

BARBER    MEMORIAL  SEMINARY. 

Barber  Memorial  Seminary  is  the  thoughtful  and 
loving  gift  of  a  Christian  woman  for  the  education 
and  elevation  of  colored  girls.  Ardently  interested 


Among-  Colored  People.  157 

in  the  welfare  of  the  colored  people,  Mrs.  P.  M. 
Barber,  of  Philadelphia,  has  founded  this  school  as 
a  memorial  to  her  late  husband,  whose  expressed 
purpose  it  had  been  to  provide  an  institution  of  this 
kind.  The  school  is  located  at  Anniston,  Ala.  Rev. 
S.  M.  Davis,  D.  D.,  president. 

BRAINERD    INSTITUTE. 

Brainerd  Institute,  established  for  the  Christian 
education  of  Colored  youth  of  both  sexes,  is  located 
in  Chester,  S.  C.  John  S.  Marquis,  Principal. 

The  school  grounds  comprise  13  acres.  There 
are  two  large  buildings  ;  one  being  principal's  home, 
young  women's  dormitories,  dining  room  and  kitchen  ; 
the  other  containing  class-rooms,  printing  office, 
and  young  men's  dormitories. 

Brainerd  Institute  has  turned  out  some  very  useful 
men  and  women.  Rev.  George  W.  Clinton,  now  a 
Bishop  in  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  was  at  one 
time  a  student  there. 

INGLESIDE    SEMINARY. 

Ingleside  is  located  at  Burkville,  Va.,  and,  like 
Mary  Holmes,  Mary  Allen,  and  Barber  Memorial,  this 
seminary  was  founded  for  the  higher  education  of 
colored  girls.  In  addition  to  the  literary  work,  they 
have  an  industrial  department,  where  sewing  and 
other  domestic  work  are  taught.  Rev.  Graham  C. 
Campbell,  A.  M.,  president. 

In  addition  to  the  schools  mentioned  in  the  Pres 
byterian  work  they  have  quite  a  number  of  large 
parochials  which  are  doing  splendid  work. 


CHAPTER  X. 

PRESBYTERIAN  SCHOOLS  MANAGED  BY  COLORED  PEOPLE, 

IT  will  be  noticed  that  quite  a  number  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Schools  are  under  the  management  of  col 
ored  people.  These  schools  are  very  well  managed 
and  reflect  great  credit  on  the  ability  of  colored  men. 

SWIFT    MEMORIAL    INSTITUTE. 

Swift  Memorial  Institute  is  located  at  Rogersville, 
Tenri.  It  was  begun  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Franklin  in  1883, 
under  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances.  He  be 
gan  at  the  very  bottom  and  had  no  other  capital  save 
intellectual  ability,  school-training,  strong  purpose, 
perseverance,  and  unswerving  faith  in  God  and  the 
righteousness  of  his  cause.  It  is  true  that  he  had 
the  hearty  endorsement  and  co-operation  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Holsten,  the  Synod  of  Tennessee,  and 
the  Freedmen's  Board,  but  they  were  not  in  a  con 
dition  to  render  him  the  assistance  required  and  the 
conduct  of  the  whole  work,  for  a  number  of  years 
rested  upon  his  shoulders.  In  the  face  of  opposition, 
discouragement  and  prejudice  of  every  kind,  the 
work  had  a  gradual  and  solid  growth.  Each  year 
found  the  school  advancing  and  intrenching  itself  in 
the  confidence  of  the  people  at  home  and  abroad. 
Mr.  Franklin  did  not  lose  any  opportunity  to  earnestly 
present  the  necessity  and  the  claims  of  the  school  in 
(158) 


Among  Colored  People.  159 

Tennessee,  in  Ohio  and  in  Michigan.  In  1887,  when 
the  founder  had  raised  a  subscription  of  $500,  the 
Freedmen's  Board  appropriated  $1000  to  purchase 
a  desirable  site  which  had  been  selected.  The  school 
soon  outgrew  its  new  accommodations.  In  1890, 
the  school  had  prospered  to  such  an  extent,  and  had 
so  favorably  commended  itself  to  the  Board  that  it 
pledged  $5,000  for  a  suitable  building  provided 
that  the  friends  of  Rev.  E.  E.  Swift,  D.  D.,  of  Alle 
gheny,  for  whom  the  school  was  named,  would  raise 
$5,OOO  additional.  After  two  years  of  soliciting, 
pleading,  praying  and  hoping,  the  Board  and  the 
Ladies  of  the  Church  in  Pennsylvania,  Illinois  and 
elsewhere  took  hold  of  the  matter  in  real  earnest  and 
soon  the  building  was  erected.  The  site  was  enlarged 
and  made -more  desirable  by  an  additional  purchase. 
May,  1893,  found  the  school  in  an  elegant  and  sub 
stantial  brick  building,  1 16  x  42,  and  three  stories  high, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  The  building  has  all 
the  modern  improvements  and  is  much  admired  by 
all  visitors  for  its  simplicity,  its  neatness  and  its  con 
veniences.  It  has  many  visitors.  The  whole  plant, 
site,  building  and  furniture,  cost  about  $25,000. 
These  funds  have  been  supplied  by  the  Freedmen's 
Board,  Women's  Societies  and  benevolent  individuals, 
besides  many  gifts  annually  for  current  expenses  and 
scholarships. 

The  literary  work  will  compare  most  favorably 
with  that  done  in  other  like  institutions  of  the  best 
grades.  The  students  have  taught  in  this  State  and 
in  other  States  and  are  much  in  demand.  It  is  a 


160  Evidences  of  Progress 

Christian  centre  and  is  giving  a  thorough  Christian 
training  to  all  of  its  students.  Its  industrial  and 
domestic  departments  are  giving  such  training  as 
will  revolutionize  the  home  life,  give  intelligent  di 
rection  to  the  applied  hand,  and  give  business-like 
system  to  all  the  activities.  The  present  year 
marks  the  most  interesting  and  prosperous  one  in  its 
history.  All  the  rooms  in  the  girls'  dormitory  are 
occupied,  and  no  place  can  be  found  for  the  boys. 
The  great,  pressing  and  immediate  want  of  the 
institution,  is  a  dormitory  for  the  boys.  With  this 
want  supplied,  the  ability  of  the  school  to  do  'a 
much-needed  and  urgent  work  for  Christ  and  hu 
manity  will  be  increased  many  fold.  Few  schools 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Freedmen's  Board  have  a 
better  field  and  a  better  opportunity  to  do  a  great, 
useful  and  permanent  work  for  a  needy,  meritorious, 
and  appreciative  people.  With  timely  and  sufficient 
aid,  few  schools  have  a  brighter,  more  fruitful,  or  a 
more  glorious  future.  The  faculty  of  the  school  is 
as  follows : 

Rev.  W.  H.  Franklin,  A.  M.,  Mr.  J.  J.  Johnson, 
A.  B.,  Miss  Ada  G.  Battle,  N.  S.,  Mrs.  Flora  E. 
Elms,  N.,  Mrs.  Ida  V.  Penland  Love,  N.,  and  Mrs. 
Laura  C.  Franklin,  Matron. 

REV.    W.    H.    FRANKLIN. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Franklin,  A.  M.,  was  born  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  April  14,  1852.  His  parents  were  free 
and  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who 
knew  them.  His  father  was  a  competent  brick- 


Among  Colored  People. 


161 


mason  and  was  much  in  demand  in  his  trade.  His 
mother  is  a  modest  and  sensible  woman.  The  an 
cestors  of  both  parents  were  influential.  His  grand 
mother,  with  several  members  of  her  family,  went  to 


REV.   W.    H.    FRANKLIN,   A.  M. 

Liberia  in  1850.  Mr.  Franklin  had  the  opportunity 
of  attending  school  one  month,  just  as  the  Rebellion 
began.  He  learned  to  read  and  to  write  his  name 
in  that  month.  When  Burnside  came  to  Knoxville 
in  1865,  he  entered  school  again.  He  was  generally 
ii 


i62  Evidences  of  Progress 

acknowledged  not  only  the  head  of  his  class,  but 
also  the  head  of  the  school  he  attended.  He  at 
tended  the  schools  of  Knoxville  until  1870.  He 
then  taught  school  at  Hudsonville,  Marshall  Co., 
Miss.,  for  two  terms  and  saved  sufficient  money 
to  help  build  a  better  house  for  his  mother  and  to 
enter  Maryville  College,  Maryville,  Tenn.  In  that 
institution  he  took  high  rank  in  his  class,  and  in  the 
college.  His  talents  received  immediate  recognition. 
The  first  year  he  appeared  as  Vice-President  of  the 
Athenian  Society  and  a  participant  in  its  annual 
exercises,  delivering  a  recitation  and  the  diplomas  to 
the  graduates  of  the  society.  From  that  time  his 
recognition  and  place  was  secured  until  his  gradua 
tion  in  1880  from  the  classical  course.  His  graduat 
ing  oration  was  said  to  be  the  best  on  the  occasion. 
He  entered  Lane  Theological  Seminary  in  Sept., 
1880,  and  graduated  from  it  in  1883,  in  a  class 
•known  for  its  high  ability.  The  Commercial 
Gazette  awarded  him  the  highest  medal  of  praise. 
From  Lane  he  came  in  June  of  the  same  year  to 
Rogersville,  Tenn.,  which  was  to  be  his  future  field 
of  labor.  He  was  ordained  minister  by  Union 
Presbytery,  Synod  of  Tennessee,  in  1883.  In  June 
he  took  charge  of  his  work  at  Rogersville.  He 
began  the  work  of  making  a  real  church  and  of 
founding  a  school  for  the  higher  education  of  colored 
youth.  The  task  was  to  make  brick  without  straw 
and  in  the  face  of  persistent,  opposition  and  preju 
dice.  He  disregarded  both.  The  result  is  that  he 
has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  strong  church  work 


Among  Colored  People.  163 

and  a  splendid  school.  He  has  a  plant  estimated  to 
be  worth  $25,000  and  a  full  school  of  students 
representing  four  different  States. 

He  has  done  much  other  work  in  the  interest  of 
the  race.  He  has  corresponded  with  newspapers, 
represented  his  people  in  conventions,  represented  his 
Presbytery  in  the  memorable  Centennial  General 
Assembly  and  is  now  a  director  of  Maryville  College. 
His  alma  mater  conferred  A.  M.  upon  him  several 
years  ;igo.  Mr.  Franklin  has  the  respect  and  confi 
dence  of  all  his  acquaintances  in  Church  and  State, 
and  is  known  as  a  scholar,  educator,  orator  and 
preacher  of  no  mean  ability.  He  has  never  sought 
notoriety,  but  has  been  contented  to  do  his  duty  con 
scientiously  and  efficiently  in  the  field  which  he  has 
chosen  for  his  labors. 

HAINES    NORMAL   AND    INDUSTRIAL    INSTITUTE. 

The  Haines  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  is  the 
product  of  the  great  missionary  effort  of  Miss  Lucy 
C.  Laney,  formerly  of  Macon,  Ga.  It  was  estab 
lished  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  in  1886,  where  it  is  now 
located  and  successfully  managed  by  its  founder,  to 
whose  personal  efforts  its  existence  for  the  first  three 
or  four  years  is  solely  due. 

After  that  time  she  succeeded  in  having  it  placed 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Northern  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  it  is  to-day  under  the  care  of  the  Freed- 
man's  Board  of  that  church. 

The  present  usefulness  of  the  school  has  doubtless 
outreached  the  expectations  of  its  founder  and  the 


164  Evidences  of  Progress 

Board.  The  original  design  was  to  make  it  simply  a 
home  where  a  few  girls  might  receive  an  all-round 
development,  and  a  means  for  furnishing  day-school 
advantages  to  as  many  as  could  be  cared  for.  It 
is  now  a  large  boarding  school,  furnishing  home  ac 
commodations  in  the  main  buildings  for  sixty  or 
seventy  girls,  and  in  rented  cottages  for  fifteen  or 


HAINES   NORMAL    AND  INDUSTRIAL   INSTITUTE. 

twenty  boys  ;  class-room  facilities  for  550  pupils,  the 
highest  number  reached  being  436 ;  industrial  train 
ing  in  sewing,  laundrying,  nursing,  printing,  shoe- 
making  and  general  house-cleaning. 

The  following  selection  taken  from  an  article 
written  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Cowan,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the 
Freedmen's  Board  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the 
August  number  of  TJic  Church  at  Home  and  Abroad 
(1893),  presents  very  forcibly  the  real  character  of 


Among  Colored  People.  165 

this  school  growing  out  of  the  character  of  its 
founder  and  present  head.  "  He  (referring  to  Rev. 
David  Laney,  who  died  a  year  ago,)  has  put  no  son 
into  the  Gospel  ministry  to  succeed  him,  but  his 


LUCY   C.    LANEY. 


worthy  daughter  Lucy  is  to-day  pratically  doing  the 
work  of  a  faithful  minister  or  servant  of  Christ. 
Miss  Laney  is  a  graduate  of  Atlanta  University,  and 
has  an  education  of  which  no  woman  in  this  land, 
white  or  colored,  need  be  ashamed. 

"  Equipped  for  the  work  and  fired  with  a  dauntless 


1 66  Evidences  of  Progress 

zeal  for  the  elevation  of  her  race,  of  whom  she  always 
speaks  as  'my  people,'  she  entered  Augusta,  Ga., 
single-handed  and  alone  and  began  te-iching  the  few 
children  she  could  at  the  beginning  draw  around 
her.  As  she  taught,  her  school  increased.  No  one 
stood  with  her  at  the  first.  The  Freedmen's  Board 
was  back  of  her,  but  we  scarcely  knew  her  value  at 
the  time,  commissioning  her  for  the  work,  but  giving 
her  only  what  she  could  collect  for  her  services  on 
the  field.  On  this  point  her  success  brought  us  the 
information  we  needed.  We  did  not  help  her  at  the 
first  as  we  would  now.  Her  courage,  patience,  self- 
forgetfulness,  and  withal  her  good  common  sense, 
attracted  attention.  She  began  with  a  few  and  at  the 
end  of  the  first  year  reported  seventy-five  scholars 
under  her  care.  At  the  end  of  the  second  year  she 
reported  234.  The  progress  of  her  work  was  so  satis 
factory  that  when  the  opportunity  to  place  $10,000  in 
some  particular  educational  work  in  the  South  came 
to  the  Board,  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  members 
was  that  Miss  Laney's  school  had  merited  the  pro 
posed  help. 

"  When  the  Assembly  met  at  Minneapolis  in  1886, 
Miss  Laney  met  the  late  Mrs.  F.  E.  H.  Haines.  who 
was  then  President  of  the  Women's  Executive  Com 
mittee  of  Home  Missions,  and  was  so  impressed  with 
her  earnest  Christian  character  and  her  deep  interest 
in  the  colored  people  of  the  South,  that  she  went 
home  and  named  her  school  the  Haines  School." 

The  literary  department  of  Haines  School  consists 
of  College  Preparatory  course,  Higher  English, 


Among  Colored  People.  167 

Grammar  School,  Primary  and  Kindergarten.  The 
school  contains  the  material  for  a  strictly  Normal 
course,  and  more  than  a  dozen  young  women  have 
graduated  from  the  higher  English  or  high-school 
course.  Trained  teachers  are  needed  to  put  such  a 
course  into  effect. 

The  Grammar  School  department,  except  the  high 
est  grade,  furnishes  practice  work  for  these  young 
women  And  it  is  preparatory  to  the  higher  English 
course. 

The  College  Preparatory  course  aims  to  prepare 
students  for  college.  With  a  very  few  exceptions 
all  of  the  graduates  from  this  course  have  entered 
Lincoln  University,  making  at  entrance  Sophomore 
class.  One  entered  Junior  class  two  years  ago. 

The  Higher  English  course  aims  to  prepare  the 
average  young  man  and  woman  for  active  life  as  well 
As  to  stimulate  them  to  further  study  in  school. 

The  Kindergarten  is  complete  in  itself.  Its  fur 
nishing,  the  training  of  the  Kindergartner  and  her 
salary,  are  a  gift  to  the  school  from  its  friends  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Though  but  lately  added  to  the 
school,  the  Kindergarten  is  the  result  of  the  long- 
cherished  plans  and  personal  efforts  of  Miss  Laney. 
Not  only  the  Kindergarten,  but  the  entire  success  of 
the  school,  is  due  to  contributions  from  friends  who 
have  been  reached  and  impressed  with  the  actual 
needs  of  the  Negro  by  Miss  Laney  in  her  numerous 
speeches  to  Northern  audiences ;  "  a  mission,"  says 
Dr.  Cowan  in  the  same  article  quoted  from,  "  for 
which  she  has  a  rare  gift,  apparently  without  know- 


1 68  Evidences  of  Progress 

ing  it."  No  less  able  is  she  to  impress,  by  her  own 
life  of  sacrifice,  Christian  character  and  native  ability. 

A  lasting  influence  for  good  in  this  school,  and 
especially  in  the  home  life,  now  lives,  sacred  to  the 
memory  of  Miss  Cora  Freeman,  who  was  associated 
with  Miss  Laney,  when  the  foundation  of  the  work 
was  being  laid,  and  who  shared  bravely  the  hard 
things  which  necessarily  attend  the  beginning  of  a 
large,  unselfish  work  of  this  kind.  She  died  after  a 
service  of  three  years. 

Miss  Irene  Smallwood,  the  present  Kindergartner, 
Mr.  Frank  P.  Laney  and  Mr.  James  Smith,  both  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  at  present,  were  also  associated 
with  Miss  Laney  in  the  earlier  work  of  the  school. 

A  large  four-story  brick  building,  a  wooden  build 
ing  for  the  industrial  work  and  Kindergarten,  one 
acre  of  land,  three  rented  cottages,  together  with 
radiating  Christian  influences,  constitute  Haines 
School,  one  of  the  evidences  of  the  native  ability 
and  disposition  of  the  Negro,  of  the  hopeful  results 
of  Christian  education  for  the  Negro,  of  Northern 
devotion  to  the  Negro,  and  the  promise  of  a  fuller 
development  of  better  things  for  the  Negro  eager  to 
be  uplifted,  and  for  consecrated  hearts,  willing  to 
give. 

MONTICELLO   SEMINARY. 

The  story  of  the  development  of  this  school  is 
better  told  when  interwoven  with  the  life  of  Rev. 
C.  S.  Mebane,  its  founder.  Rev.  C.  S.  Mebane,  A.  M., 
Principal  of  Monticello  Seminary,  Monticello,  Ark., 
ivas  born  of  slave  parents  in  Alamance  county,  N.  C., 


Among  Colored  People. 


169 


in  the  year  1857.  At  the  close  of  the  late  war  he 
and  six  other  children  with  penniless  parents  wit 
nessed  the  hardships  that  confronted  those  who  were 
thrown  out  upon  the  frozen  charities  of  the  world. 
A  few  years  of  earnest  toil  rewarded  the  oncepoverty- 


REV.  C.  S.  MEBANE,  A.  M. 


stricken  family  with  a  comfortable  living.  Having 
reached  the  years  of  manhood  he  was  not  content 
with  a  common  school  education,  but  had  a  thirst 
for  higher  training,  and  as  soon  as  the  necessary 


170  Evidences  of  Progress 

arrangements  could  be  made  he  entered  Lincoln 
University,  Chester  county,  Pa.,  for  the  purpose  of 
fitting  himself  for  the  ministry.  Here  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  the  late  Mr.  W.  R.  Davenport,  of 
Erie,  Pa.,  who  supported  him  through  school  in 
honor  of  his  deceased  son,  Frank  R.  Davenport 
Having  completed  his  course  in  school  he  entered 
upon  the  church  and  school  work  at  Monticello, 
Ark.,  in  the  fall  of  1888.  Of  a  self-denying,  fatherly 
disposition,  he  has  often  cared  for  the  suffering  and 
unfortunate  both  with  hands  and  purse.  He  revised 
the  old  organization,  infused  new  life  into  it,  gathered 
about  him  the  handful  of  members,  selected  officers, 
and  began  the  race  to  success.  A  Sabbath  School 
was  organized  and  regularly  kept  up,  and  preaching 
service  was  at  first  observed  twice  a  month. 

But  before  the  church  work  was  well  on  footing, 
he  entered  the  schoolroom  ;  and  here  the  struggle 
began  in  earnest. 

The  school  session  continues  eight  months  and  is 
divided  into  four  departments :  the  Primary,  Pre 
paratory,  the  Teacher's  and  Higher  courses. 

The  boarding  pupils  live  in  the  "  Home  "  and  are 
taught  domestic  work  in  connection  with  their 
studies. 

The  last  two  years  have  been  the  most  successful 
in  the  history  of  the  school.  The  enrolment  for  the 
first  passed  the  200  line  ;  and  while  it  may  not  go 
beyond  that  this  year  on  account  of  "  hard  times," 
it  has  drawn  upon  larger  areas  and  new  territory. 


Among-  Colored  People.  171 

IMMANUEL  TRAINING  SCHOOL. 

This  work  was  begun  in  a  small  dilapidated  frame 
building  at  Aiken,  S.  C,  in  1882.  That  building 
constituted  a  part  of  the  first  real  estate,  which, 
through  the  aid  of  Dr.  Derby,  Mrs.  H.  G.  Burlingame, 
Miss  E.  M.  Greenleaf,  and  many  other  friends,  was 
purchased  for  the  colored  people's  use  in  April,  1882. 
As  witnesses  to  the  lawful  execution  of  the  deed, 
Dr.  Derby  and  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  George  H. 
Kennedy,  who  was  spending  the  season  in  Aiken, 
signed  their  names  to  it. 

That  unfinished  boarding  house,  which  has  since 
been  used  as  a  home,  church,  school  and  boarding 
hall  for  students,  all  at  the  same  time,  was,  in  a  sense, 
the  foundation  of  what  is  now  Derby  Hall — one  of 
the  best  buildings  of  the  school.  To  accommodate 
it  to  the  various  demands  of  the  work,  changes  were 
made  from  time  to  time.  But  after  the  erection  of  a 
houseof  worship  and  a  school  building,  there  remained 
but  one  thing  more  to  do,  and  that  was  to  reconvert 
the  entire  structure  into  a  boarding  halt  principally 
for  the  accommodation  of  students  from  a  distance. 
The  new  mansard  roof  was  put  on  and  other  neces 
sary  alterations  and  improvements  made  during  the 
summer  of  1891,  at  a  cost  of  $1,600.  The  building 
now  contains  twenty-six  rooms. 

All  of  the  helpful  branches  of  industry  are  taught 
in  this  school. 

REV.  W.  R.  COLES. 

Rev.  W.  R.  Coles,  the  superintendent  of  the  Imman- 
uel  Training  School,  and  pastor  of  Immanuel  Presby 


172  Evidences  of  Progress 

terian  Church,  of  Aiken,  S.  C,  was  one  of  the  first 
graduates  of  Lincoln  University.  Speaking  of  his 
work  as  founder  of  the  Immanuel  Church,  he  had  the 
following  to  say : 

*   Laboring  as  Sy nodical  Missionary,  by  appoint- 


REV.  W.  R.  COLES. 


ment  of  the  Synod  of  Atlantic  (and  approved  by  the 
Presbyterian  Committee  of  Missions  for  Freedmen),  I 
came  to  Aiken  on  the  23d  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1 88 1, 
seeking  a  home  for  my  family,  and  to  look  after  the 


Among  Colored  People.  173 

general  interests  of  our  work.  While  here  (June  10, 
1881),  I  received  a  communication  from  the  Freed- 
men's  Committee,  informing  me  that  my  work  as 
Synodical  Missionary  would  terminate  with  June  30, 
and  that  it  was  the  will  of  the  Committee  that  I 
locate  again  in  the  pastorate. 

"  I,  therefore,  settled  in  Aiken,  and  commenced 
missionary  work,  holding  services  in  my  own  house 
from  June  30  till  the  latter  part  of  November,  when 
we  moved  into  a  rented  house,  the  property  of  Henry 
Smith,  on  Newberry  street.  This  building  was,  on 
the  night  of  the  third  Sabbath  in  November,  1881, 
formally  set  apart  as  a  place  of  worship,  under  the 
name  of  '  The  Newberry  Street  Presbyterian  Mis 
sion.'  The  way  being  clear  we  organized  a  Sabbath 
School  on  the  fourth  Sabbath  in  November,  1 88 1,  with 
thirteen  members  :  Mr.  J.  F.  Chestnut,  Superintend 
ent  ;  teachers,  Mr.  James  F.  Chestnut,  W.  R.  Coles, 
Mrs.  R.  E.  Coles ;  Librarian,  Mr.  T.  G.  Bronson  ; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  R.  E.  Coles.  Thus  established,  we 
labored,  preaching  and  conducting  Sabbath  School 
every  Sunday,  holding  prayer-meeting  one  night 
during  the  week,  and  visiting,  etc.,  till  the  fifth  Sab 
bath  in  January,  1882,  when,  at  the  request  of  nine 
communicants,  I,  acting  as  an  evangelist,  assisted  by 
Rev.  T.  P.  Kay,  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Aiken,  S.  C.,  formally  organized  The  Immanuel  Pres 
byterian  Church  of  Aiken,  S.  C.  Messrs.  Alexander 
Johnson  and  Vincent  Green  were  elected,  ordained 
and  installed  as  Ruling  Elders ;  John  Mayes  as 
Deacon." 


174 


Evidences  of  Progress 


DAYTON    ACADEMY. 

The  history  of  Dayton  Academy  and  the  career 
of  Rev.  Henry  D.  Wood  must  go  together. 

Rev.  Henry  D.  Wood,  A.  M.,  Principal  of  Dayton 


REV.    HENRY    D.    WOOD. 


Academy,  Carthage,  N.  C.,  was  born  in  Trenton,  N.  J., 
Feb.  10,  1847.  He  received  his  early  training  in  the 
public  school  of  that  city.  A  youth  of  sixteen  years 
(1863)  he  enlisted  in  the  famous  54th  Massachusetts 
Regiment  and  served  in  defence  of  his  country  and 


Among  Colored  People.  175 

for  the  freedom  of  his  people  until  these  were  accom 
plished.  He  returned  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  for 
several  years  found  employment  with  the  Orington 
Bros.,  Importers,  working  his  way  from  the  position 
of  porter  to  a  clerkship  in  the  shipping  department 
of  that  house.  United  with  the  Siloam  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  was  at  once  made  an  elder  in  that 
church,  and  though  holding  a  lucrative  position,  was 
so  impressed  with  his  call  to  the  ministry  that  he 
resolved  to  make  preparation  for  that  work.  He 
entered  Lincoln  University,  where  he  held  high  rank 
in  character  and  proficiency  in  studies,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Theological  Department  in  '78. 
In  1880  he  was  commissioned  by  the  "Presbyterian 
Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen,"  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Yadkin,  and  entered  upon  the  work  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged.  He  found  here  a  desti 
tute,  neglected  field,  an  organization  of  about  forty 
members  in  two  churches,  no  Sabbath  schools,  public 
schools  limited  to  two  months,  and  the  people  too 
poor  to  better  their  condition. 

He  made  known  the  condition  of  things  to  per 
sonal  friends  North,  who  generously  responded  to 
his  appeal  for  help,  and  arousing  his  people  to  effort 
in  their  own  behalf  soon  succeeded  in  erecting"  one 

o 

of  the  neatest  and  most  comfortable  churches  in  this 
part  of  the  country. 

The  people  were  encouraged  to  deeper  interest  in 
their  own  improvement.  Day  school  was  opened  in 
his  residence,  but  it  proved  too  small ;  many  were 
crowded  out.  The  Board  established  a  parochial 


176  Evidences  of  Progress 

school  and  each  year  it  was  enlarged.  In  '86  it  was 
found  necessary  to  advance  the  grade,  hence  "  Day 
ton  Academy,"  a  handsome  three-story  building 
comprising  class-rooms  and  girls'  dormitory,  also  a 
boys'  dormitory,  with  dining-room  and  kitchen. 

Three  church  buildings  are  valued  at  about  $3,500; 
school  property  about  $1,500;  church  membership 
about  400;  Sabbath  school  about  450;  Day  school 
scholars,  260;  five  teachers  in  Academy. 

This  school  supplies  teachers  for  the  public 
schools,  and  they  are  found  doing  good  service  in 
Sabbath  schools  and  in  churches,  and  everywhere. 

ALBION    ACADEMY. 

The  Albion  Academy,  at  Franklinton,  N.  C,  was 
founded  in  the  year  1877,  by  the  late  Moses  A.  Hop 
kins,  Minister  to  the  Republic  of  Liberia.  At  the 
time  of  the  founding  of  this  Academy  there  were  no 
adequate  facilities  to  serve  a  liberal  education  in  the 
community.  Aided  by  friends  at  the  North,  the  late 
William  Shaw,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  John  Hall, 
and  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Albion,  N.  Y., 
the  Academy  was  organized  and  established  amid 
the  strenuous  efforts  of  bitter  opponents  to  resist  it. 

The  first  principal  of  the  school  was  its  founder, 
the  late  Rev.  Moses  A.  Hopkins. 

Many  young  men  and  women  have  been  sent  from 
this  institution  to  higher  schools,  as  Lincoln  Univer 
sity,  Pa.,  Biddle  University,  N.  C.,  Fisk  University, 
Tenn.,  and  Howard  University,  D.  C.,  etc.  The 
school  is  designed  for  the  education  of  the  many 


Among  Colored  People. 

thousands  in  this  section  of  the  State.  It  is  the  only 
educational  centre  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
Eastern  North  Carolina,  for  the  Negro  race.  It  offers 


REV.  JOHN  A.  SAVAGE,  D.  D. 

the  benefits  of  a  liberal  education  to  the  Negroes  of 
the  South,  as  well  as  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

Many  friends  in  the  North  have  given  largely  to 
the  support  of  the  Academy.  There  are  three 
halls.  The  Stamford  Hall,  and  the  Darling  Hall. 

12 


1 78  Evidences  of  Progress 

are  for  the  young  ladies.     The  Academy  Hall  con 
tains  eight  recitation-rooms  and  a  chapel  hall. 

REV.  JOHN  A.  SAVAGE,  D.  D. 

After  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Sevier  in 
the  year  of  1892,  as  the  principal  of  the  Academy, 
Rev.  John  A.  Savage,  D.  D.,  was  called  and  ap 
pointed  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  the  presidency 
of  th'e  Academy.  Since  his  government  the  Aca 
demy  has  taken  a  fresh  start  in  every  direction. 

Rev.  Mr.  Savage,  the  president  of  Albion  Academy, 
is  a  graduate  of  Lincoln  University.  He  is  an 
unassuming  gentleman  of  much  natural  ability  and 
his  work  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina  is  most 
creditable.  The  school  has  been  rapidly  built  up 
under  his  charge,  and  many  young  men  and  women 
in  the  community  are  thankful  to  Rev.  Savage  for 
his  kind  attention  and  earnest  interest  in  their  educa 
tion. 

BIDDLE    UNIVERSITY. 

This  University  is  located  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  and 
is  named  in  memory  of  the  late  Henry  J.  Biddle,  of 
Philadelphia,  whose  widow,  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Biddle, 
has  been  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters.  It  is 
chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  and  is 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States. 

The  object  of  the  institution  is  the  education  of 
colored  teachers  and  preachers,  and  leaders  for  the 
race  in  other  walks  of  life. 

It  stands  at  the  terminus  of  seven  railroads,  in  the 


Among  Colored  People. 


179 


midst  of  a  dense  and  comparatively  intelligent  col 
ored  population,  and  occupies  a  site  of  sixty  acres  in 
the  suburbs  of  the  city. 

It  is  situated  in  the  heart  of  the  South  Atlantic 
region,  which  contains  the  two  Synods  of  Atlantic 
and  Catawba,  having  290  colored  churches,  180  min- 


BIDDLE   UNIVERSITY. 


isters,  scores  of  young  men  in  preparation  for  the 
ministry,  with  a  large  number  of  schools  and  acad 
emies  under  their  care.  These  schools  and  churches 
must  be  furnished  with  intelligent  Christian  teachers 
and  preachers,  who  must  be  largely  educated  on  the 
field,  and  in  contact  with  the  people  among  whom 
they  are  to  labor.  Such  a  training  is  given  here  at 
less  expense  than  it  could  be  elsewhere ;  the  student 


i8o 


Evidences  of  Progress 


has  the  best  opportunities  for  a  liberal  education  to 
gether  with  the  refining  influence  of  a  Christian  home, 
and  he  is  kept  at  the  same  time  in  contact  and  sym 
pathy  with  the  people. 


REV.    D.   J.    SANDERS,  D.  D., 

President  of  Biddle  University,  Charlotte,  N.  C. 

This  institution  has  a  colored  president  and  J 
think  that  he  has  demonstrated  the  ability  of  the 
colored  man  to  govern.  I  regard  Rev.  D.  J.  Sanders, 
D.  D.,  as  a  very  able  man,  and  I  think  he  has  done 
as  well  at  Biddle  as  any  other  man  could  have  done. 


Among  Colored  People.  181 

considering  the  period  through  which  the  institution 
has  just  passed. 

No  institution  in  the  care  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  has  a  wider  field  or  greater  opportunities. 
Its  students  are  gathered  from  all  the  South  Atlantic 
States,  and  are  scattered  in  their  school  and  church 
work  through  all  this  vast  region,  and  as  far  west  as 
Texas. 

It  is  the  only  institution  of  its  kind  maintained  by 
our  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  South ;  and  it  cer 
tainly  is  one  of  the  most  important  agencies  in  the 
hands  of  the  Church  for  the  accomplishment  of  good 
among  8,000,000  of  colored  people.  It  commends 
itself  to  the  prayers  and  gifts  of  all  good  men. 

The  importance  in  the  eyes  of  the  Church,  of  the 
interests  which  Biddle  University  represents,  is  forci 
bly  put  in  the  language  of  a  recent  circular  addressed 
to  churches  on  its  behalf  by  the  Board  of  Missions  for 
Freedmeu  : 

"  What  is  done,"  say  they,  "  for  Biddle  University, 
will,  in  a  great  measure,  determine  the  success  of 
our  whole  work  among  the  Freedmen." 

FERGUSON  ACADEMY. 

Ferguson  Academy  is  situated  at  Abbeville,  S.  C. 
The  property  was  acquired  by  the  Freedmen's  Board 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1891.  In  1892  Rev. 
Thomas  H.  Amos,  A.  M.,  then  pastor  of  the  First 
African  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  was  elected 
principal  to  succeed  Rev.  E.  W.  Williams.  The  enrol- 


182 


Evidences  of  Progress 


ment    then    consisted    of  sixty-two  students,    which 
have  grown  from  that  number  to  210. 

The  property  consists  of  three  buildings  valued  at 
$7,000  or  $8,000,  free  of  debt. 


IBB 


REV.  THOMAS  H.  AMOS,   A.    M. 

The  course  of  instruction  is  divided  into  nine  grades. 
The  faculty  consists  of  Rev.  T.  H.  Amos,  A.  M., 
Principal  ;  Prof.  Joseph  W.  Lee,  Mrs.  Ida  B.  Amos, 
Eliza  A.  Pindle,  Misses  Carrie  M.  Richie  and  Mattie 
F.  Barr. 


Among  Colored  People.  183 

There  is  an  industrial  department  connected  with 
the  school,  and  most  of  the  work  is  done  by  the 
students.  The  management  of  the  work  is  economi 
cal;  the  instruction  painstaking  and  thorough,  the 
discipline  kind,  and  the  graduates  have  the  reputa 
tion  of  being  moral  and  efficient  teachers.  There  is 
no  doubt  but  that  the  influences  of  such  a  school  are 
uplifting  to  the  masses  of  colored  youth  in  the  com 
munity.  Those  who  have  investigated  the  work  of 
the  school  praise  the  management  and  thank  its  bene 
factors  for  what  it  is  doing.  The  friends  of  Negro 
education  may  have  confidence  in  Ferguson  Acade 
my,  and  find  it  an  appropriate  channel  through 
which  the  rising  generation  of  this  people  can  be 
helped  to  places  of  usefulness  and  respectability. 
The  religious  tone  of  the  instruction  is  deep  and  in 
addition  to  this  the  diligence  and  experience  of  its 
faculty  and  the  supervision  of  the  officers  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  guarantee  that  this  is  a  light  to 
scatter  the  night  in  the  regions  where  its  graduates, 
both  male  and  female,  will  go  forth. 

HARBISON    INSTITUTE. 

Harbison  Institute  is  located  at  Beaufort,  South 
Carolina;  Rev.  G.  M.  Elliott,  President. 

The  aim  of  Harbison  Institute  is  to  give  thorough 
training  in  those  studies  laid  down  in  the  course,  and 
thereby  fit  those  who  attend  upon  its  instruction  for 
practical  life,  and  help  them  to  succeed  in  the  work 
of  their  choice. 

Persons  whose  moral  character,  or  whose  general 


1 84  Evidences  of  Progress 

influence  would  be  detrimental  to  the  good  of  the 
school,  will  not  be  received  or  retained  in  the  school. 

The  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  tobacco,  profane 
or  indecent  language,  card-playing,  and  everything 
tending  to  immoral  life,  are  strictly  forbidden. 

Immoral  or  vicious  conduct;  insubordination  to 
school  authority ;  habitual  tardiness,  or  truancy ; 
habitual  uncleanliness  of  person,  or  indecency  in 
dress ;  persistent  disorder,  or  misdemeanor  on  street, 
while  going  to  or  from  school,  will  be  deemed  suf 
ficient  grounds  for  suspending  the  offender  from  the 
privileges  of  the  school. 

This  school  is  doing  just  the  kind  of  work  needed 
in  the  locality  where  it  is  situated. 

j.  B.  SWANN. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Swann,  who  is  conducting  an  Indus 
trial  School,  at  Lothian  (Anne  Arundel  county), 
Maryland,  has  been  a  very  active  worker  in  behalf  of 
Negro  education,  from  the  time  he  entered  Lincoln 
University  in  the  fall  of  1867,  up  to  the  present  time. 

He  started  out  as  a  Missionary  teacher  under  the 
Board  of  Home  Missions  for  Freedmen  during  the 
summer  months  while  attending  Lincoln,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  building  his  first  day-school  at  Mocksville, 
N.  C.,  in  1869.  From  Mocksville,  he  was  com 
missioned  by  the  Board  to  West  River,  Md.,  where 
he  labored  for  twelve  years.  From  this  place  he 
was  sent  to  Greensborough,  N.  C.  Here  he  took 
charge  of  a  school  which  had  been  previously 
organized  and  he  made  quite  a  success  of  the  work. 


Among  Colored  People.  185 

A  few  years  later  Mr.  Swann  returned  to  Lincoln  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  a  theological  course.  After 
finishing  his  studies  he  began  his  present  work. 
His  success  has  been  marked  and  the  results  of  his 


REV.  J.  B.  SWANN. 

untiring  efforts  have  been  gratifying  both  to  him  and 
the  Board. 

MARY  POTTER  MEMORIAL  SCHOOL. 

Mary  Potter  Memorial  School  is  located  at  Oxford, 


1 86 


Evidences  of  Progress 


N.  C.,  and  is  under  the  management  of  Prof.  G.  C. 
Shaw. 

This   school    is   named    in   honor   of  Mrs.  Mary 
Potter,   of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  who  was  very  much 


PROF.  G.  C.  SHAW. 


interested  in  the  Freedmen  and  contributed  liberally 
toward  their  educational  improvement.  She  donated 
the  money  to  start  this  school,  and  after  it  had  be 
come  too  small  for  the  accommodation  of  the  many 
young  people  who  crowded  into  it,  friends  of  Mrs. 


Among  Colored  People.  187 

Potter  and  friends  of  the  colored  people  contributed 
to  its  enlargement.  It  is  now  in  a  splendid  condi 
tion  and  very  creditable  work  is  being  accomplished. 

Professor  Shaw,  the  principal  of  this  school,  was 
born  of  slave  parents  at  Louisburg,  N.  C.,  June  19, 
1863.  He  entered  Lincoln  University  in  1881  and 
graduated  in  1886.  Devoted  one  year  to  the  study  of 
theology  at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary. 
Graduated  from  Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  of 
Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in  1890. 

It  was  while  he  was  at  Auburn  that  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Potter,  who  offered  him 
encouragement  in  the  line  of  work  he  had  mapped 
out  for  his  life. 

While  in  Oxford,  he  has  succeeded  in  organizing 
a  church  and  building  up  the  school.  Mr.  Shaw  tells 
me  that  he  contemplates  adding  an  industrial  depart 
ment  to  the  school  shortly  and  thereby  increasing  its 
usefulness. 

COTTON  PLANT  ACADEMY. 

Cotton  Plant  Academy  is  located  at  Cotton  Plant, 
Ark.  Rev.  F.  C.  Potter,  Principal.  It  is  a  school 
for  co-education,  and  is  doing  very  good  work  for 
the  moral  uplifting  of  the  colored  people  in  the 
section  where  it  is  located. 

RICHARD    ALLEN    INSTITUTE. 

Named  after  Rev.  R.  H.  Allen,  D.  D.,  late  Secre 
tary  of  Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church;  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  Mission 


1 88  Evidences  of  Progress. 

established  in  1885  by  the  Presbytery  of  Pine  Bluff, 
Ark. 

The  school  was  opened  November  7,  1887,  in  the 
dwelling-house  of  the  principal,  and  at  first  occupied 
one  room;  a  second  and  then  a  third  were  soon  in 
demand ;  from  an  enrolment  of  twenty-one  pupils  it 
increased  to  138,  and  has  steadily  advanced  until  the 
roll  has  reached  nearly  300.  With  the  assistance  of 
Messrs.  W.  B.  Alexander,  J.  W.  Crawford,  J.  B. 
Speers,  Judge  W.  S.  McCain,  J.  R.  Westbrooks,  ct  al.; 
a  title  with  no  encumbrance  was  secured  to  the 
property,  and  a  building  commenced,  foundation 
and  studding  in  place,  when  the  weather  prevented 
further  work.  When  completed,  this  building  had 
four  rooms  below,  two  rooms  in  second  story,  and 
one  extended  room  on  the  third  floor.  In  this,  from 
250  to  300  pupils  were  accommodated.  The  loss  of 
this  house  by  fire  on  the  1 7th  of  January,  1894,  was 
a  severe  blow,  entailing  a  loss  of  $5,000,  confining 
the  whole  school  in  the  dormitory  of  Richard  Allen 
Institute,  which  was  erected  in  1892,  by  the  assist 
ance  of  Miss  Mary  E.  Holmes,  and  fitted  up  to 
accommodate  a  number  of  pupils. 

This  is  a  chartered  Institute  under  the  laws  of 
Arkansas,  and  is  supported  like  all  other  Missions 
under  the  Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  Lewis  Johnston,  Principal, 


CHAPTER  XL 

INDEPENDENT  AND  STATE  SCHOOLS. 

IN  this  and  the  next  two  chapters  I  shall  deal  with 
the  Indepednent  and  State  schools.  I  open  this 
chapter  with  Tuskegee  Normal  and  Industrial  In 
stitute  because  it  has  created  a  greater  amount  of 
interest  and  has  been  the  subject  of  more  discussion 
in  recent  years  than  any  other. 

THE   TUSKEGEE    NORMAL   AND     INDUSTRIAL    INSTITUTE. 

Charles  Dickens  says  somewhere  :  "  There  is  not 
an  atom  in  Tom's  slime,  not  a  cubic  inch  in  any  pes 
tilential  gas  in  which  he  lives,  not  one  obscenity,  or 
degradation  about  him,  not  an  ignorance,  not  a 
wickedness,  not  a  brutality  of  his  committing,  but 
shall  work  its  retribution  through  every  order  of 
society,  up  to  the  proudest  of  the  proud  and  the 
highest  of  the  high." 

Ignorance  and  degradation  among  the  people 
clearly  menace  the  South,  and  not  only  the  South, 
but  the  entire  country.  The  action  and  reaction  of 
human  life  is  such  that  no  class  of  persons,  however 
wise  or  wealthy,  can  stand  aloof  from  those  lower, 
and  remain  unaffected,  even  though  unmoved,  by 
their  misfortunes.  More  and  more  is  this  fact  being 
recognized,  and,  as  a  means  of  self-protection,  as  well 

(i8q) 


190  Evidences  of  Progress 

as  from  philanthropic  motives,  a  widespread  interest 
is  being  taken  in  the  education  of  the  Negro. 

Perhaps  the  phase  of  this  question  which  has 
aroused  the  greatest  discussion  is,  "  What  kind  of 
education  does  the  Negro  need  ? "  Yet,  probably, 
if  we  would  try  better  to  understand  each  other, 
there  would  be  less  difference  of  opinion.  He  who 
claims  that  there  are  those  who  should  receive  the 
higher  education,  and  he  who  contends  that  what  the 
masses  need  is  an  English  course  and  a  trade,  are 
not  necessarily  antagonistic  in  their  views.  They 
may  simply  stand  each  for  the  prominent  presenta 
tion  of  a  special  phase  of  the  work  to  be  done  for  the 
race.  Bright  colored  girls  and  boys  who  wish  to  go 
to  college  and  can  do  so,  certainly  should  be  en 
couraged  to  go.  We  have  need  of  men  and  women 
with  trained  and  disciplined  minds.  Besides  there 
are  individuals  who  are  endowed  with  special  gifts 
which  can  be  used,  to  the  greatest  advantage,  for  the 
race  and  for  humanity,  only  by  giving  them  the 
highest  possible  degree  of  culture.  On  the  other 
hand,  there  are  the  masses,  who,  like  the  masses  of 
any  race,  are  not  able,  either  intellectually  or  finan 
cially,  to  take  a  college  course,  and  who,  besides,  are 
destined  to  callings  which  require  training  other  than 
that  the  college  gives.  What  is  to  be  done  for  them  ? 
This  Booker  T.  Washington  is  ably  demonstrating 
at  Tuskegee.  Both  of  these  cases  should  be  pre 
sented  in  equity,  and  the  importance  of  either  should 
not  cause  the  other  to  be  overlooked. 

The  success  of  the  Tuskegee  School  is  due,  in  a 


Among  Colored  People.  19! 

large  measure,  to  the  fact  that  it  meets  what  is  recog 
nized  as  a  great  educational  need.  It  carries  along 
with  the  training  of  the  head  the  training  of  the 
hand  makes  possible  an  education  to  the  poorest  boy 


PROF.    R.    T.    WASHINGTON,    A.  M., 

Principal  of    Tuskegee  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute, 
Juskegee,  Ala. 

and  girl  in  the  land,  and  sends  each  graduate  out 
into  the  world  familiar  with  some  form  of  labor  to 
the  extent  that  he  can  earn  thereby  his  daily  bread. 
The  experiment  of  this  kind  of  training  in  solving 


192 


Evidences  of  Progress 


the  much-talked-of  problem,  is  being  watched  on  all 
sides  with  eager  curiosity. 

Tuskegee  is  no  more  Hampton  than  Hampton  is 
the  little  school  in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  from  which 
General  Armstrong  received  those  earliest  concep- 


ARMSTRONG  HALL. 
Built  by  Students. 

tions  of  the  industrial  education,  afterwards  realized 
on  American  soil  in  behalf  of  the  American  Negro. 
The  peculiar  exigencies  of  the  situation  gave  rise  to 
features  in  the  more  Southern  school  which  are  not 
to  be  found  in  the  one  nearer  Mason  and  Dixon's 
line,  and,  in  like  manner,  account  for  the  absence  in 
the  younger  school,  of  certain  characteristics  belong 
ing  to  the  older  institution. 

As  those  acquainted  with  the  history  of  Tuskegee 
know,  the  school  started  in  1881  in  an  humble  church 


Among-  Colored  People.  193 

and  two  shanties  in  the  town  of  Tuskegee.  There 
was  then  one  teacher  with  thirty  pupils  ;  no  land,  no 
buildings,  no  apparatus,  nothing  but  the  $2,OOO  ap 
propriated  by  the  State  for  the  payment  of  salaries. 
There  are  now  over  one  hundred  persons  connected 
with  the  school  in  the  capacity  of  instructors  of  some 
kind,  nearly  1,200  pupils,  including  those  attending  the 


ALABAMA    HALL. 
Built  by  Students. 

Training  School ;  more  than  forty  buildings  erected 
by  student  labor,  2,600  acres  of  land,  and  a  property 
valued  at  $225,000,  unincumbered  by  mortgage. 

This  marvelous  growth  is  due  mainly  to  one  man, 

Booker  T.  Washington,  the   principal  of   the  school; 

and  his  success  may  be  attributed  to  a  combination 

of  qualities — marked  executive  ability,  high  enthusi- 

13 


194 


Evidences  of  Progress 


asm,  keen,  prophetic  vision,  and  a  wonderful  power 
to  see  and  to  state  the  value  of  things  commonly  con 
sidered  of  small  account.  Some  one  has  character 
ized  Mr.  Washington  as  "  the  man  with  a  genius  for 
common  sense,"  and,  probably,  one  might  use  many 
words  in  telling  of  him  without  giving  so  good  a  de 
scription  as  that  conveyed  in  this  terse  expression. 


PHELPS    HALL. 

Built  by  Students. 

Tuskegee  stands  for  the  education  of  the  head,  the 
hand,  and  the  heart,  the  three  H's  which  include  the 
three  R's  and  much  more.  It  gives  a  good  Normal 
course,  which  fits  one  fairly  well  for  the  race  of  life, 
or  serves  as  an  excellent  foundation  for  a  more  ad 
vanced  course.  Stress  is  laid  on  the  study  of  peda 
gogy  and  practice  in  the  training  school;  for  the  in 
stitution  acts  on  the  theory,  which  in  most  cases  is 
correct,  that  these  young  people,  after  graduation, 


Among  Colored  People.  195 

will  teach  at  some  time,  whether  or  not  during  their 
schooldays  they  expect  to  do  so,  and,  therefore,  pro 
tects  the  future  pupils  of  these  embryo  teachers  by 
requiring  every  one  who  aspires  to  a  diploma  to  re 
ceive  training  in  the  theory  and  practice  of  teaching. 
The  Phelps  Hall  Bible  School,  connected  with  the 
Tuskegee  Institute,  is  the  gift  of  a  Northern  friend, 


BOOKER  T.  WASHINGTON'S  COTTAGE. 
Built  by  Students. 

and  is  designed  especially  to  help  the  ministers  of 
the  South,  among  whom  it  is  doing  a  great  work. 
Many  pastors  in  charge  of  churches,  learning  of  the 
advantages  of  the  institution  and  the  possibility  of 
getting  through  school  with  very  little  money,  resign 
their  churches  to  come  here  and  better  fit  themselves 
for  the  work.  Others,  nearer,  enter  the  school  and 


196  Evidences  of  Progress 

trudge  several  miles  on  Saturday  or  Sunday  to  meet 
and  minister  to  their  congregations.  Those  not 
pastoring  churches  while  in  school,  carry  on  some 
form  of  mission  work,  and  so  keep  in  touch  with  the 
people  and  help  lift  up  others  even  while  they  are 
being  lifted  up. 

There  are  over  twenty-five  industries  operated  by 
students  under  experienced  and  efficient  instructors. 
A  limited  number  of  young  men  and  women  work 
during  the  day  and  attend  school  at  night,  in  this 
manner  supporting  themselves  and  laying  by  a  sur 
plus  for  expenses  when  they  enter  the  day-school, 
besides  fortifying  themselves  with  the  knowledge  of 
a  trade.  In  order  to  teach  the  dignity  of  labor,  as 
well  as  for  the  sake  of  the  skill  thus  acquired  by 
each  student  in  some  industry,  all  are  required  to  do 
a  certain  amount  of  work. 

Besides  the  literary  societies  of  the  school,  of 
which  there  are  four,  doing  good  service  along  the 
lines  usually  adopted  by  such  student  bodies,  there 
are  several  religious  organizations.  The  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
has  a  large  membership  and  is  doing  a  most  effective 
work.  The  young  men  belonging  to  this  association 
are  of  an  especially  high  type  of  young  manhood, 
and  they  are  exerting  a  most  helpful  and  healthful 
influence  on  the  morals  of  the  school.  After  a  great 
deal  of  worthy  effort  they  have  succeeded  in  getting 
a  pretty  well-stocked  reading-room  and  library,  and 
they  are  now  bending  their  energies  toward  securing 
a  building  of  their  own.  They  feel  that  they  have 


Among  Colored  People.  197 

outgrown  the  one  little  room  which  is  all  the  school 
can  afford  to  give  them. 

The  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  is  full  of  vigorous  life.  Its 
presidents  have  always  been  teachers,  while  the  va 
rious  committees  are  composed  of  both  teachers  and 
students.  Besides  the  Executive  Committee  there  is 
a  Lookout  Committee,  which  looks  out  for  the  wel 
fare  of  the  society,  and  keeps  trace  of  the  members 
who  are  absent  from  the  consecration  meetings  ;  a 
Prayer  Meeting  Committee  which  has  charge  of  all 
the  prayer  meetings ;  a  Flower  Committee,  which 
carries  flowers  to  the  sick,  and  decorates  the  chapel 
for  special  exercises,  and  a  Mission  Committee,  which 
does  work  in  the  neighborhood  among  the  poor, 
carrying  food  and  clothing  to  them  from  time  to 
time  during  the  year. 

The  Mite  Society  is  a  branch  of  the  W.  H.  M.  S. 
Besides  general  work  among  the  poor  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  school,  it  has  given  special  care  to  the  old 
people  of  the  county  poorhouse.  This  society  exacts 
one  cent  weekly  from  its  members,  and  when  this 
cannot  be  given,  accepts,  in  lieu  thereof,  a  sheet  of 
paper,  a  stamp,  an  envelope,  or  anything  which  may 
be  sold  by  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

The  Tuskegee  Women's  Club  is  not,  like  the  or 
ganizations  already  mentioned,  for  the  students  ;  but, 
as  an  outgrowth  of  the  school,  and  one  of  the  most 
helpful  influences  in  the  community,  it  may  be  men 
tioned  here.  This  club  is  composed  of  the  women 
connected  with  the  institution,  either  as  teachers  or 
the  wives  of  teachers.  At  the  regular  semi-monthly 


198  Evidences  of  Progress 

meetings  a  literary  and  musical  program  is  rendered, 
and  there  is  a  sub-organization  which  meets  weekly 
for  an  informal  discussion  of  current  topics  ;  but  these 
efforts  for  self-improvement  do  not  limit  the  activity 
of  the  club.  Among  the  branch  organizations  con 
ducted  by  its  members  are  social  purity  clubs  among 
the  girls  of  the  institution,  a  humane  society,  to 
which  both  boys  and  girls  belong,  a  club  for  the 
ministers'  wives  of  the  town  and  vicinity,  where  they 
are  helped  to  a  fuller  realization  of  the  responsibili 
ties  and  opportunities  of  their  position,  and  are  shown 
how  they  may  best  work  among  the  girls  and  women 
of  the  churches,  a  club  for  mutual  improvement 
having  as  members  girls  attending  the  institution,  but 
living  in  town,  a  Y.  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and  a  club  con 
ducted  in  the  town  on  Saturday  afternoons  in  the 
special  interest  of  the  country  women,  who  flock  in 
on  that  day  to  see  the  sights  and  to  do  their  small 
shopping.  This  club  was  organized  by  Mrs.  Booker 
T.  Washington,  several  years  ago,  even  before  the 
organization  of  the  main  club  of  which  it  is  now  con 
sidered  a  branch,  and  it  has  done  much  to  elevate 
the  morals  and  improve  the  manners  of  the  women 
in  and  near  Tuskegee. 

The  influence  of  the  school  is  still  further  extended 
by  means  of  the  farmers'  conferences,  with  which  the 
public  is  very  generally  acquainted.  These  confer 
ences  are  held  annually,  towards  the  latter  part  of 
February  or  the  first  of  March,  and  are  largely  at 
tended.  The  men  are  advised  to  buy  land  and  to 
cultivate  it  thoroughly,  to  raise  more  food  supplies. 


Among  Colored  People.  199 

to  build  houses  with  more  than  one  room,  to  tax 
themselves  to  build  better  school  houses,  and  to  ex 
tend  the  term  to  at  least  six  months,  to  give  more 
attention  to  the  character  of  their  leaders,  especially 
ministers  and  teachers,  to  keep  out  of  debt,  to  avoid 
law  suits,  to  treat  their  women  better,  and  where 
practicable,  to  hold  similar  conferences  in  their 
several  communities.  A  woman's  conference  is  held 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  and  topics  relating 
to  the  home  and  the  care  of  children  are  discussed. 
The  next  day  there  is  a  congress  of  workers,  which 
is  attended  by  teachers  and  others  who  labor  for  the 
elevation  of  the  colored  people. 

Tuskegee  not  only  advises  the  people  to  get 
homes,  but,  through  the  generosity  of  a  friend  who 
established  a  fund  for  this  purpose,  she  has  been 
enabled  to  help  several  families  to  this  end.  The 
sum  of  $4,500  was  given  to  be  loaned  in  amounts 
ranging  from  $30  to  $300,  to  graduates  of  the 
school  or  to  other  worthy  persons.  Already  more 
than  twenty  homes  have  been  secured  in  this  man 
ner,  and,  as  a  result,  Greenwood,  a  model  little 
community,  is  growing  up  just  beyond  the  school 
grounds. 

The  Summer  Assembly  furnishes  help  of  another 
kind.  This  is  a  sort  of  Southern  Chautauqua,  mod 
ified  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  section  and  of  the 
people  for  whose  benefit  it  is  held.  Here  tired 
teachers,  preachers,  and  others  meet  annually  and 
combine  pleasure  with  instruction,  holding  daily 
morning  sessions  at  which  papers  on  subjects  of 


2OO  Evidences  of  Progress 

practical  importance  are  read  and  discussed,  and 
spending  afternoons  and  evenings  in  rest  and  recrea 
tion. 

These  are  influences  emanating  directly  from  the 
school,  but  what  of  the  work  of  its  graduates,  of 
the  indirect  influences  thus  set  in  motion  ?  Their 
name  is  legion.  These  graduates  and  undergraduates 
are  scattered  throughout  the  South,  engaged  in  the 
great  work  of  trying  to  elevate  a  race.  We  find  them 
in  the  shops,  comparing  favorably  with  their  white 
fellow-workmen,  at  the  head  of  industrial  departments 
in  smaller  schools  planned  after  the  order  of  the 
Tuskegee  Institute;  preaching  among  the  people, 
trying  to  clear  their  minds  of  ignorance  and  supersti 
tion,  and  seeking  to  raise  the  standard  of  the  ministry 
of  which  they  form  a  part;  teaching  in  remote  coun 
try  districts,  probably  for  salaries  hardly  more  than 
sufficient  to  pay  their  board,  perhaps  building  with 
their  own  hands  the  schoolhouse  they  have  induced 
the  people  to  assist  in  erecting ;  on  their  own  little 
pieces  of  land  farming  after  the  improved  methods 
they  learned  at  school;  nursing,  sewing,  caring  for 
their  own  homes  and  children — all,  we  trust,  many, 
we  know — lights  in  the  communities  in  which  they 
reside  and  living  embodiments  of  the  principles  for 
which  the  beloved  parent  institution  stands. 

The  aim  has  always  been  to  have  the  instructors 
at  Tuskegee  persons  of  ability;  frequently  they  have 
been  also  persons  of  considerable  reputation.  One 
of  the  most  remarkable  characters  ever  connected 
with  the  school  and  the  one  to  whom,  more  than  to 


Among  Colored  People.  20 1 

any  other,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Washington 
himself,  is  due  Tuskegee's  phenomenal  progress,  was 
Mrs.  Olivia  Davidson  Washington,  the  now  deceased 
wife  of  the  principal.  She  was  Mr.  Washington's 
assistant  almost  from  the  first,  and  being  a  woman 
of  great  enthusiasm,  earnestness,  and  fixity  of  pur 
pose,  and  being,  besides,  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  the  North  where  she  received  her  education,  she 
made  many  friends  for  the  institution,  and  brought 
to  it  many  gifts. 

Mrs.  Warren  Logan,  who  is  yet  teaching  in  the 
school,  was  associated  very  early  in  the  work  with 
Mr.  Washington  and  Miss  Davidson,  she  and  Miss 
Davidson  being  for  some  time  the  only  women 
teachers  in  the  school.  Mrs.  Logan  helped  to  train 
many  of  the  teachers  who  have  gone  out  from  Tus- 
kegee,  and  has  done  other  work  in  that  line,  having 
been  appointed  at  various  times  to  hold  teachers'  insti 
tutes  in  different  parts  of  Alabama  and  of  Georgia. 

Mr.  Logan,  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  holds  a 
position  in  the  institution  second  in  importance  only 
to  that  of  the  principal,  and  has  proved  his  worth  by 
long  years  of  faithful  service.  The  head  teacher, 
Mr.  Nathan  B.  Young,  is  a  graduate  of  Oberlin  Col 
lege  ;  he  is  a  close  student  and  a  man  of  recognized 
scholarship. 

Mr.  R.  R.  Taylor,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  depart 
ment  of  architectural  and  mechanical  drawing,  was 
graduated  from  the  Boston  School  of  Technology. 

Rev.  E.  J.  Penney,  at  the  head  of  the  Phelps  Hall 
Bible  Training  School,  is  of  the  Yale  Divinity  School. 


2O2  Evidences  of  Progress 

Prof.  J.  W.  Hoffman,  an  agricultural  specialist,  is 
a  member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences,  and  of  several  English  and  continental 
scientific  bodies. 

At  one  time  Miss  Hallie  Quinn  Brown,  the  noted 
elocutionist,  served  as  lady  principal. 

Dr.  Tanner's  talented  daughter,  Dr.  Hallie  Tanner 
Dillon,  was  resident  physician  until  she  married,  and 
her  husband  accepted  the  presidency  of  Allen  Uni 
versity  in  South  Carolina. 

Something  may  be  judged  of  Mrs.  Booker  T. 
Washington  from  what  has  been  already  told  of  her 
work  among  the  women.  She  is  now  more  widely 
known,  perhaps,  as  the  President  of  the  National 
Federation  of  Afro-American  Women ;  but  it  is  in 
the  State  of  Alabama,  the  heart  of  the  Black  Belt, 
where  her  influence  is  really  exerted  and  felt,  as  it 
can  be  exerted  and  felt  nowhere  else.  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  is  a  very  strong  character,  and  is  truly  a  help 
meet  for  the  husband  who  has  chosen  her. 

Of  Mr.  Washington,  the  whole  country  knows  how 
he  struggled  for  an  education  at  Hampton,  was  se 
lected  by  General  Armstrong  to  take  charge  of  the 
work  at  Tuskegee,  and  with  one  bound  has  leaped 
to  the  front,  making  himself  the  most  prominent 
figure  among  living  colored  men  and  his  school  the 
greatest  educational  influence  in  the  South  at  the 
present  day. 

This  brief  mention  gives  some  idea  of  the  status 
of  the  men  and  women  who  compose  the  teaching 
force  of  the  school  at  Tuskegee.  The  best  talent  is 


Among  Colored  People.  203 

none  too  good  for  such  work.  The  school  is  in  the 
centre  of  a  vast  Negro  population,  where  the  blacks 
outnumber  the  whites  three  to  one.  Here  are  un 
paralleled  opportunities  for  helping  the  masses  of  the 
people;  and  in  their  redemption,  even  more  than  in 
the  higher  education  of  a  gifted  few,  the  welfare  of 
the  country  is  involved. 

NORMAL. 

While  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  at 
Normal,  Alabama,  has  made  little  display  through 
the  public  prints,  it  is  a  fact  that  it  is  doing  a  great 
work  for  Negro  Education,  and  stands  among  the 
best  schools  of  the  land. 

This  institution,  like  many  others  in  the  South,  is 
the  work  of  sacrifice  and  charity.  The  early  teach 
ers  taught  for  a  bare  living  in  order  to  make  the 
school  a  fixture.  Prof.  Councill,  the  founder  and 
president  of  the  school,  gave  his  entire  earnings  for 
more  than  ten  years  to  the  work.  The  documents 
which  the  teachers  signed,  donating  their  salaries  to 
the  cause  of  education  of  the  Negro  race,  is  a  part 
of  the  records  of  the  institution,  and  a  witness  of 
their  devotion  and  consecration  to  the  work. 

The  school  began  its  existence  in  the  city  of 
Huntsville,  Ala.,  May  I,  1875.  It  was  first  taught 
in  a  little  church,  and  then  in  rented  houses  about 
the  city  until,  September  I,  1882,  a  beautiful  lot  con 
sisting  of  five  acres  of  land,  on  which  stood  several 
buildings,  was  purchased  and  the  school  permanently 
located. 


204 


Evidences  of  Progress 


Beginning  May  I,  1875,  with  not  one  dollar  in 
property,  only  one  teacher,  nineteen  pupils,  annual 
income  of  $1,000,  in  1878,  its  work  was  so  satis 


factory  that  the  annual  appropriation  was  increased 
to  $2,OOO,  and  it  then  had  four  teachers  and  over  200 
pupils.  The  Peabody  and  Slater  funds  made  liberal 
contributions  to  its  support.  In  1884,  the  Alabama 


Among  Colored  People.  205 

Legislature  increased  the  annual  appropriation  to 
$4,000,  the  city  of  Huntsville  gave  aid,  and  warm 
friends,  North  and  South,  contributed  liberally.  The 
old  buildings  on  the  grounds  were  improved,  and  by 
1890,  two  large  handsome  brick  buildings,  one  large 
frame  dormitory  for  young  men,  and  a  commodious 
industrial  building  had  been  erected  and  fitted  up; 
the  faculty  had  been  increased  to  eleven  teachers,  and 
more  than  300  students  were  receiving  instruction 
in  a  thorough  Normal  Course  and  in  important 
industries.  The  Legislature  of  Alabama,  in  further 
recognition  of  the  merits  of  this  institution,  selected 
it  as  the  recipient  of  that  portion  of  the  Congres 
sional  grant  under  act  approved  August  30,  1890, 
known  as  the  Morrill  Fund  "  for  the  more  complete 
endowment  and  maintenance  of  colleges  for  the 
benefit  of  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts,"  given 
to  Alabama  for  Negro  Education.  This  action  of 
the  Legislature  gave  new  force  and  broader  scope  to 
the  work.  It  was  seen  that  larger  quarters  were 
necessary,  that  the  beautiful  grounds,  handsome 
buildings  supplied  with  gas  and.  water,  must  be  given 
up  and  the  school  removed  from  Huntsville  to 
some  suitable  place  near  by.  A  great  many  lo 
cations  were  offered,  and,  after  due  consideration, 
the  present  location  was  purchased.  Palmer  Hall 
and  Seay  Hall,  a  barn  and  a  dairy  were  erected  and 
the  session  opened  for  1891-2,  September  I,  in  its 
new  quarters — three  months  after  the  closing  of  the 
session,  June  I,  1891.  The  new  location  was  com 
monly  known  as  Green  Bottom  Inn,  or  Connally 


206 


Evidences  of  Progress 


Race-Track.  It  has  an  interesting  history,  as  old 
almost  as  the  State  itself.  There  once  stood  upon 
these  grounds  a  famous  inn,  a  large  distillery,  grog 
shop,  slave  cabins,  rows  of  stables  in  which  were 
kept  the  great  trotting  horses  of  fifty  years  ago,  while 
in  the  beautiful  valley,  circling  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
was  the  race-course,  where  thousands  of  dollars 
were  lost  and  won.  Stretching  faraway  to  the  south, 
west  and  north  of  the  hill  (now  Normal)  are  broad 


ONLY  SCHOOL  PROF.  COUNCILL  EVER  ATTENDED. 

fields  wherein  worked  hundreds  of  Africa's  dusky 
sons,  filling  the  air  with  merry  songs  accompanying 
plow  or  hoe,  or  with  silent  prayers  to  heaven  for  de 
liverance  from  bondage.  Here  men,  as  well  as 
horses,  were  bought  and  sold,  and  often  blood  was 
drawn  from  human  veins  by  the  lash  like  the  red 
wine  from  bright  decanters.  But  what  a  change! 
The  famous  old  inn  is  no  more.  The  distillery  has 


Among  Colored  People. 


207 


crumbled  to  dust.  Not  a  vestige  of  those  stables  re 
main.  The  old  grog-shop,  too,  has  gone  forever. 
However, 

"There  are  still  some  few  remaining, 
Who  remind  us  of  the  past." 


The  beautiful  mountains  and  the  same  broad  fields, 
made    more    beautiful    by    Freedom's    touch,  still 


208 


Evidences  of  Progress 


stretch  far,  far  away ;  the  race-course  is  gone,  but  a 
little  higher  up  the  hillside  is  a  road  along  which 
thousands  of  slaves  have  passed  from  the  Carolinas 


and  Virginia  to  the  bottoms  of  the  Mississippi,;  and 
the  road  now  is  a  main  street  of  Normal ;  four  of  the 
old  slave  cabins  remain,  one  of  which  for  three  years 


Among  Colored  People.  209 

served  as  the  president's  office  and  three  repaired 
and  occupied  by  teachers  and  their  families;  the  great 
old  gin-house,  built  of  logs,  where  so  many  slaves 
trembled  at  the  reckoning  evening  hour,  now  used  as 
Normal's  blacksmith  shop,  wheelwright  shop,  broom 
factory,  mattress  factory;  the  old  log  barn,  repaired, 
and  with  additions,  serving  as  Normal's  laundry;  the 
little  saddle  house  whose  framework  is  put  together 
entirely  with  pegs  instead  of  nails,  now  serves  as 
barber  shop;  the  carriage  house,  which  has  served 
as  sewing  room  and  printing  office  ;  and  last  the 
grand  old  residence  of  the  "lord  of  the  manor," 
partly  of  stone  (walls  three  feet  thick)  and  partly  of 
wood  covered  with  cedar  shingles,  under  a  heavy 
coating  of  moss,  containing  in  all  eight  rooms.  In 
this  typical,  hospitable  Southern  home,  the  great 
Andrew  Jackson,  once  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  entertained  when  he  attended  the  races 
and  bet  his  eagles  on  the  trotters.  This  home  is 
now  the  residence  of  the  President  of  Normal  who 
was  himself  a  slave.  The  mutations  of  time ! 

The  income  is  derived  from  the  State  of  Alabama, 
U.  S.  Government  (Morrill  Fund),  and  charitable 
sources.  This  is  steadily  increasing  every  year. 

Since  the  organization,  the  institution  has  sent 
forth  218  graduates  from  its  various  departments. 
Besides  these  graduates,  there  are  hundreds  of  under 
graduates  doing  great  work  among  thousands  of  the 
Negro  population  of  the  country. 

In  the  Literary  Department  of  Normal  there  are 
14 


2IO 


Evidences  of  Progress 


six  well  organized  schools  or  courses   of  study,  to 
wit : 

I.     Normal  or  Professional  School,  with  a   course 
of  three  years. 


2.  Normal  Preparatory  School,  two  years. 

3.  Model  School,  four  years. 

4.  Bible  Training  School,  two  years. 


Among  Colored  People.  2 It 

5.  School  of  Music — Instrumental  and  Vocal. 

6.  Business     Course,     including     Bookkeeping, 
Shorthand,  Type-writing,  Telegraphy  and  Commer 
cial  Law. 

Normal  has,  also,  a  liberal  Post-Graduate  Course. 

The  Industrial  Department  has  twenty  schools  or 
courses,  from  one  to  three  years,  in  Cooking,  Sewing 
Sick  Nursing,  Laundering,  Housekeeping,  Network, 
Blacksmithing,  House  Carpentry,  Wheelwright, 
Cabinet-making,  Shoe-making,  Painting,  Printing, 
Broom-making,  Mattress-making,  Plumbing,  Agri 
culture,  Horticulture,  Dairy  Farming,  Stock  Raising. 

Normal  is  fortunate  in  her  abundant  water  supply. 

The  school  has  an  excellent  laboratory,  and  a 
very  good  library  consisting  of  choice  books,  and  a 
reading  room,  wherein  are  some  of  the  best  magazines 
and  journals  of  the  country. 

There  are  quite  a  number  of  Religious  Societies 
which  are  doin<r  much  sfood. 

o  o 

There  are  more  than  twenty  buildings  of  various 
sizes  and  uses  upon  the  grounds. 

A  post-office  has  been  established  on  the  Elora 
branch  of  the  N.  C.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.,  right  at  the 
school,  and  the  stati'on  has  been  named  Normal, 
Alabama,  in  honor  of  the  school.  Fearns  is  the 
name  of  the  station  on  the  M.  &  C.  R.  R.,  situated 
also  on  the  school  grounds.  Normal  does  registry 
and  money-order  business.  It  has  also  an  express 
office  and  telegraph  station. 

All  work,  including  building,  repairing,  black- 
smithing,  wheelwrighting,  painting,  broom-making, 


212 


Evidences  of  Progress 


printing,  shoe-making,  mattress-making,  farming, 
cooking,  dining-room  and  general  house-work,  is 
performed  by  the  students. 


The  shops  are  well  supplied  with  ordinary  ma 
chinery  and  tools. 

The  farm  comprises  about  2OO  acres  of  land,  on 
which  are  cultivated  for  general  and  experimental 


Among  Colored  People.  213 

purposes  many  varieties  of  cotton,  grain,  and  all 
kinds  of  vegetables.  The  farm  is  well  stocked  with 
mules,  horses,  Devon,  Holstein  and  Jersey  cows, 
best  breeds  of  hogs  and  poultry ;  vehicles  and 
implements  of  every  kind. 

The  various  fruits  of  this  section  are  found  in  the 
orchards  of  the  farm. 

The  healthfulness  of  this  entire  section  is  generally 
known.  But  this  school  is  particularly  favored  in 
this  regard  on  account  of  its  excellent  location  and 
surroundings.  Normal  is  1,200  feet  above  sea-level, 
with  a  natural  drainage  unsurpassed  in  the  United 
States.  The  atmosphere  is  pure  and  bracing  at  all 
times. 

Very  few  of  the  students  of  Normal  received 
other  help  than  a  chance  to  work  out  their  destinies. 

The  teachers  contribute  a  portion  of  their  salaries 
to  our  "  Student  Aid  Fund"  and  other  causes  for  the 
promotion  of  the  work. 

The  work  of  elevating  the  plantation  life  of  the 
Negro  is  one  of  the  most  important  connected  with 
the  work  of  education  in  the  South.  It  is  hard  for 
the  schools  to  reach  these  people.  Hence  the  im 
portance  of  special  effort  in  this  direction.  Normal 
has  organized  to  meet  the  demand.  Young  women 
are  trained  especially  for  this  work.  Those  who 
will  dedicate  their  lives  to  this  work  on  the  planta 
tion,  to  work  regardless  of  pay,  have  all  of  their  ex 
penses  paid  in  school  while  they  are  in  preparation. 
Normal  hopes  to  do  much  in  this  line. 

The  young  men  are    also  organized  for  Sunday- 


214 


Evidences  of  Progress 


school  Mission  Work.  Many  of  them  walk  five  to 
ten  miles  every  Sabbath,  to  organize  and  conduct 
Sunday  schools.  Everywhere  they  go,  school-houses 


are  built  and  repaired,  homes  are  refined  and  general 
intelligence  scattered  among  the  people.  The 
ingenuity  displayed  by  these  young  men  to  overcome 
the  poverty  which  confronts  them  in  their  work  is 


Among  Colored  People.  215 

quite  remarkable.  One  of  them  bought  Sunday- 
school  literature  and  started  a  library,  on  a  collection 
of  one  egg  each  Sunday,  from  those  who  could 
afford  to  make  such  a  contribution. 

The  U.  S.  Government  has  made  Normal  a  Weather 
Service  Station,  and  the  signals  are  read  by  the 
farmers  for  miles  away.  Normal  has  a  brass  band, 
also  an  excellent  string  band. 

Prof.  W.  H.  Councill  owns  a  farm  adjoining 
Normal,  and  occupying  a  portion  of  the  triangle  be 
tween  the  two  great  railroad  lines  approaching  each 
other  after  passing  on  either  side  of  Normal.  He 
has  laid  a  portion  of  this  land  off  in  lots,  streets, 
avenues,  alleys,  and  gives  the  odd  numbers  to  bona 
fide  settlers,  who  will  build  a  specified  house,  and  sub 
scribe  to  certain,  other  conditions,  such  as  keeping 
up  fences,  streets,  sidewalks,  etc.  Men  who  can  turn 
their  brains  and  muscles  into  things  of  use  are  en 
couraged  to  settle  here. 

PRESIDENT  W.  H.  COUNCILL. 

W.  H.  Councill  was  born  in  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  in 
1848,  and  brought  to  Alabama  by  the  traders  in  1857, 
through  the  famous  Richmond  Slave  Pen.  He  is  a 
self-made  man,  having  had  only  few  school  advan 
tages.  He  attended  one  of  the  first  schools  opened 
by  kind  Northern  friends  at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  in 
1865.  Here  he  remained  about  three  years,  and  this 
is  the  basis  of  his  education.  He  has  been  a  close 
and  earnest  student  ever  since,  often  spending  much 
of  the  night  in  study.  He  has  accumulated  quite 


Evidences  of  Progress 


an  excellent  library  and  the  best  books  of  the  best 
masters  are  his  constant  companions,  as  well  as  a 
large  supply  of  the  best  current  literature.  By 
private  instruction  and  almost  incessant  study,  he 


PROF.    W.    HV  COUNCILL. 

Principal  of  State  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  Normal,  Ala. 

gained  a  fair  knowledge  of  some  of  the  languages, 
higher  mathematics  and  the  sciences.  He  read  law 

o 

and  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  Alabama 
in  1883.  But  he  has  never  left  the  profession  of 
teaching  for  a  day,  although  flattering  political  posi- 


Among  Colored  People.  217 

tions  have  been  held  out  to  him.  He  has  occupied 
high  positions  in  church  and  other  religious,  tern- 
perance  and  charitable  organizations,  and  has  no 
mean  standing  as  a  public  speaker.  And  thus  by 
earnest  toil,  self-denial,  hard  study,  he  has  made 
himself,  built  up  one  of  the  largest  institutions  in  the 
South  and  educated  scores  of  young  people  at  his 
oivn  expense. 

Just  before  closing  this  sketch,  I  want  to  say  that 
I  regard  Mr.  Councill  as  being  one  of  the  most  re 
markable  colored  men  in  the  United  States  to-day. 
I  have  known  him  for  a  great  many  years  and  I 
recognize  in  him  the  true,  honest  man — in  every 
sense  a  man. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ECKSTEIN  NORTON  UNIVERSITY. 

THIS  school  was  founded  by  one  of  the  most  suc 
cessful  educators  of  the  race,  the  late  Rev.  Wm.  J. 
Simmons,  D.  D.,  and  his  associate,  Rev.  C.  H.  Par- 
rish,  A.  M.,  who  is  its  worthy  president.  In  1890  it 
opened  under  the  most  favorable  auspices,  and  each 
year  has  succeeded  beyond  the  sanguine  expectations 
of  its  friends.  For  purity  of  atmosphere,  for  develop 
ment  of  the  physical  powers,  for  freedom  from  the 
allurements  and  unwholesome  amusements  of  city 
life,  no  better  place  could  have  been  selected  than 
Cane  Spring,  Bullitt  county,  Ky.,  twenty-nine  miles 
from  Louisville. 

The  object  is  to  teach  the  students  how  to  work ; 
to  teach  the  dignity  of  labor,  that  hands  must  be 
used  as  well  as  heads  and  that  both  can  be  success 
fully  used  together.  It  teaches  manliness  and  race 
pride;  that  skill  tells  regardless  of  skin  or  parentage. 
It  gives,  besides  the  industries,  a  literary  training 
which  begins  with  the  primary  and  ends  with  the 
college.  As  much  is  required  from  the  study  of 
the  Bible  as  from  any  other  book. 

This  school  has  had  its  adversities  in  deaths  of 
teachers  and  conflagration  of  buildings,  yet  it  has 
bravely  struggled  through  all. 

Its  session  for  1896  opened  with  students  from 
(218) 


220 


Evidences  of  Progress 


fourteen  different  States,  and  with  prospects  bright 
and  encouraging.  Students  who  enter  this  University 
must  come  with  a  purpose  and  must  use  with  profit 
their  time.  Anything  short  of  this  will  not  be 
tolerated. 


Children  who  come  as  young  as  eight  years  are 
under  a  special  matron  who  cares  for  them  as  a 
mother.  In  the  Industrial  Department  will  be  found 
carpentry,  blacksmithing,  farming,  printing,  plain- 
sewing,  dressmaking,  tailoring,  cooking,  etc.  Busi 
ness  Department  includes  Shorthand,  Typewriting, 
Bookkeeping,  etc. 

The  Musical  Conservatory  is  the  first  of  the  race 
manned  by  teachers  from  the  best  Conservatories  of 
Music  of  this  country.  The  course  of  study  is  in 
accord  with  Oberlin,  Boston,  Chicago  and  others. 
A  Conservatory  building  is  now  being  erected  under 


Among  Colored  People.  221 

the  direction  of  Prof.  Hattie  A.  Gibbs,  who  has  traveled 
extensively  through  the  East  in  its  interest. 

Many  of  the  graduates  who  have  gone  out  from 
this  institution  are  successfully  teaching  in  the  various 
districts  of  their  counties,  and  some  are  assistants 
in  the  schools  of  their  towns.  Many  of  these  young 
men  and  women  return  after  their  schools  close  and 
take  up  their  duties  in  the  College  Department. 
Classes  and  studies  are  so  arranged  that  students 
may  study  what  is  most  desirable,  leave  off  at  any 
staere,  recruit  their  health  or  finances,  and  return 

o     * 

to  complete  the  course  at  any  future  time.  The 
time  to  finish  any  course  is  the  least  possible,  con 
sistent  with  thorough  work  in  all  departments.  The 
school  recognizes  annually  the  i6th  of  December 
(birthday  of  Honorable  Eckstein  Norton,  after  whom 
the  school  is  named),  Donor's  Day,  at  which  time 
the  work  is  reviewed  and  the  memory  of  those  who 
have  helped  the  institution,  living  or  dead,  is  kept 
fresh  and  revered  by  students  and  friends;  letters 
of  encouragement  are  read  and  contributions  an 
nounced. 

The  faculty  is  competent  and  consists  of  the  fol 
lowing  persons : 

Rev.  C.  H.  Parrish,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  President ;  P.  T. 
Frazier,  A.  B. ;  Mary  V.  Cook,  A.  B.,  A.  M. ;  Alice 
P.  Kelley,  A.  B.,  A.  M. ;  Hattie  A.  Gibbs,  Oberlin 
Conservatory ;  Minnetta  B.  James,  Minnesota ;  Cor 
nelia  Burk,  Virginia;  Amanda  V.  Nelson,  Matron. 


222  Evidences  of  Progress 

REV.    CHARLES    HENRY    PARRISH,    A.  B  ,    A.  M. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  men  among  the  Negro 
educators  of  this  country  is  Rev.  C.  H.  Parrish.  He 
is  a  native  Kentuckian,  and  worked  his  way  up  from 
errand  boy  in  a  dry  goods  store  to  the  presidency  of 
a  flourishing  school,  and  one  of  the  most  noted  min 
isters  in  the  Baptist  denomination.  In  infancy  his 
mother  beheld  a  son  in  whom  her  soul  could  delight 
Obedient,  true  and  faithful  were  traits  in  his  character 
so  conspicuous  that  he  was  a  favorite  in  his  town 
among  all  people. 

He  entered  State  University,  Louisville,  Ky.,  Sep 
tember,  1880,  with  Dr.  William  J.  Simmons  as  presi 
dent,  and  graduated  May,  1886,  at  the  head  of  his 
class  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In  i88£ 
he  became  pastor  of  the  Calvary  Baptist  Church, 
where  he  still  remains  greatly  beloved  by  a  large 
membership,  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  who  know  him  as  being  an  efficient  minister 
and  a  Christian  gentleman  who  loves  truth  for  its 
own  sake  and  pursues  it  faithfully  regardless  of 
everything. 

Many  honors  have  come  to  him  as  delegate  to 
State,  Educational  and  National  Conventions — hold 
ing  offices  of  trust  in  many.  At  this  time  he  is 
President  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association,  and 
Chairman  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  General 
Association  of  Colored  Baptists. 

He  stands  at  the  head  of  the  Eckstein  Norton 
University,  an  institution  devoted  to  the  training  of 


Among  Colored  People. 


223 


the  head,  heart  and  hand,  and  therefore  gives  to  the 
Negro  youth  the  kind  of  education  best  adapted  to 
his  development.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  the 
interest  of  the  school,  and  by  his  strict  attention  to 
business  he  has  made  the  work  a  success. 


CHAS.    H.    PARRISH,   A.  B.,   A.  M. 


Though  Rev.  Parrish  leads  a  busy  life,  he  finds 
time  to  look  after  race  interests.  He  is  author  of 
"What  We  Believe,"  a  hand-book  for  Baptist 
Churches.  So  highly  was  this  work  prized  that  the 


224  Evidences  of  Progress 

American  Baptist  Publication  Society  compiled  it 
with  works  by  Dr.  John  A.  Broadus,  Dr.  Alvah 
Hovey,  Dr.  J.  L.  Burrows  and  others.  Rev.  Parrish 
ranks  high  as  an  educator,  pulpit  orator,  president 
and  author.  He  is  clear,  comprehensive  and  con 
vincing  in  the  presentation  of  his  views  upon  all 
subjects,  and  adds  to  this  fact  a  beauty  of  language, 
grace  of  rhetoric,  and  forceful  logic,  which  stamps 
him  at  once  as  extraordinary  in  his  gifts  and  acquire 
ments. 

MISS    MARY    V.    COOK,  A,  B.,  A.  M. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.  Her  life  was  uneventful  till  she  reached 
school  age,  when  her  ability  for  learning  asserted  it 
self.  By  her  persistent  efforts  and  her  insatiable  de 
sire  for  knowledge,  she  soon  outgrew  the  educational 
facilities  of  the  place,  and  was  chafing  for  better  ad 
vantages,  when  Dr.  Wm.  J.  Simmons  made  it  possi 
ble  for  her  to  enter  the  State  University  at  Louisville, 
Ky. 

After  her  graduation  she  was  elected  permanent 
teacher  and  made  principal  of  the  Normal  Depart 
ment,  and  professor  of  Latin  and  Mathematics  in  the 
State  University,  which  position  she  held  until  a  few 
years  ago,  when  she  was  called  to  a  like  position 
in  the  Eckstein  Norton  University. 

Miss  Cook  has  appeared  on  the  programmes  of 
some  of  the  most  noted  bodies  of  the  race,  read  a 
paper  on  Afro-American  women  at  the  Educational 
Congress  in  Chicago,  1893,  and  has  addressed 
crowded  houses  throughout  the  New  England  States 


Among  Colored  People. 


22$ 


under  the  auspices  of  the  Baptist  Women's   Home 
Mission  Society. 

In  1892,  when  a  fight  was  made  against  the  enact 
ment  of  the   Separate  Coach    Law,   she,  with   three 


MISS    MARY    V.    COC 


A.  B.,  A.  M. 


other  ladies,  was  invited  to  the  State  Capital  to  enter 
protest  before  the  Legislature.  She  has  traveled  ex 
tensively  through  the  South  land  and  made  a  close 
study  of  her  people,  their  progress,  etc.  She  has 
gone  as  far  west  as  California  in  the  interest  of  the 
'5 


226  Evidences  of  Progress 

work  in  which  she  is  engaged,  and  the  school  is  now 
reaping  the  benefits  of  that  trip.  She  has  recently 
accepted  a  place  on  the  Executive  Board  of  the 
National  Federation  of  Women,  of  which  Mrs.  Vic 
toria  Mathews  is  chairman. 

Miss  Cook  is  a  thorough  business  woman ;  her 
industry  and  close  application  to  affairs  intrusted  to 
her  is  of  marked  comment.  She  is  conscientiously 
consistent  with  an  honest  conviction  of  right,  to  which 
she  adheres  with  admirable  fearlessness.  She  is,  by 
her  very  constitution,  compassionate,  gentle,  patient, 
self-denying,  loving,  hopeful,  trustful,  and  by  the 
power  of  her  own  pure  soul  she  unconsciously  molds 
the  lives  of  those  under  her.  It  would  be  utterly 
impossible  to  live  on  day  after  day  with  Miss  Cook, 
and  not  feel  the  desire  for  as  noble  a  life  springing 
up  in  your  own  heart.  She  has  a  wonderful  influence 
over  her  pupils,  who  love  her  with  the  love  that 
casteth  out  fear.  And  she  not  only  influences  them, 
but  all  who  come  in  contact  with  her  are  wonderfully 
impressed. 

Miss  Cook  is  an  intelligent  little  woman,  a  deep 
thinker ;  keeps  abreast  of  the  times  and  holds  no 
mean  place  in  the  galaxy  of  distinguished  colored 
women. 

The  women  of  her  own  State  delight  to  honor  her 
and  have  conferred  upon  her  some  of  the  highest 
offices  in  the  organizations  of  which  she  is  a  mem 
ber.  Miss  Cook  has  a  literary  inclination  ;  being  a 
strong,  graceful  writer,  she  has  contributed  much  that 
is  good  to  colored  journalism. 


Among  Colored  People.  227 

When  she  has  appeared  on  the  public  platform, 
she  has  never  failed  to  carry  her  audience  by  the 
force  of  her  terse  style  and  convincing  argument. 
She  was  recently  appointed  Commissioner  of  the 
State  of  Kentucky  to  the  Women's  Congress  which 
convened  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  December,  1895,  before 
which  body  she  read  an  interesting  paper. 

Slowly  and  surely,  step  by  step,  Miss  Cook  has 
risen  to  this  high  plane  of  usefulness  and  her  life 
is  an  inspiration,  modestly  displaying  the  great  un 
selfish  heart  of  the  woman,  whose  highest  ambition 
is  to  be  of  use  to  her  race  and  humanity. 

MISS    HATTIE   A.    GIBBS. 

Miss  Hattie  A.  Gibbs  is  the  youngest  of  five 
children  of  Hon.  Mifflin  W.  Gibbs,  of  Little  Rock, 
Ark.,  and  his  amiable  wife,  Mrs.  Anna  Alexander 
Gibbs. 

Miss  Gibbs  entered  the  Oberlin  Public  School  at 
six,  and  began  the  study  of  music  at  nine  under  the 
direction  of  her  sister,  who  at  that  time  had  made 
considerable  advancement  in  that  study.  At  eleven 
she  entered  the  Oberlin  Conservatory  of  Music,  and 
also  kept  up  her  studies  in  school  for  three  years, 
after  which  she  entered  the  high  school  and  devoted 
all  her  time  to  those  studies.  After  two  years  of 
hard  study  of  Greek,  Latin  and  Mathematics,  she 
graduated  with  honors  before  her  fifteenth  birthday. 

As  a  student  she  was  an  untiring  worker,  her  hours 
for  study  encompassed  almost  the  entire  day.  She 


228 


Evidences  of  Progress 


accustomed  herself  to  rising  at  four  o'clock  to  begin 
her  practice. 

In  the   Conservatory  Department  of  Oberlin  Col 
lege  the  attendance  is  about  500,  and    out  of  this 


PROF.    HATTIE   A.    GIBBS. 


number  the  average  attendance  of  colored  students 
is  eight  or  ten.  Students  are  required  to  finish  a 
course  of  three  studies  before  a  diploma  is  awarded. 
Besides  finishing  the  studies  of  piano,  pipe  organ 
and  harmony,  she  had  the  advantage  of  several  terms 
in  voice  culture,  and  since  her  graduation  she  has 


Among  Colored  People.  229 

made  special  study  of  the  violin  in  order  to  better 
prepare  herself  as  director  of  Eckstein  Norton  Con 
servatory  of  Music,  of  which  she  was  a  founder  and 
of  which  she  is  now  in  charge. 

The  women  of  the  race  should  be  proud  of  her. 
The  people  of  Kentucky  should  be  proud  that  one  so 
able  has  placed  her  services  within  reach,  and  ought 
to  show  the  colored  peoples'  appreciation,  by  con 
tributing  money  toward  erecting  such  suitable  build 
ings,  as  will  stand  long  after  the  founder  is  num 
bered  with  the  dead — a  race  monument  in  itself. 

In  disposition  Miss  Gibbs  is  amiable ;  in  mind  she 
is  great;  in  heart  she  is  noble;  in  manners  she  is 
gentle  ;  she  has  a  steadfast  and  undeviating  love  of 
truth,  fearless  and  straightforward  in  action  and  in 
tegrity  and  an  honor  ever  unsullied  by  an  unworthy 
word  or  deed,  and  after  all,  these  traits  so  prominent 
in  her  make-up  make  her  greater  than  her  worldly 
success  in  her  art,  for  in  themselves  they  constitute 
greatness. 

She  has  a  clever  handicraft  at  all  the  arts  com 
monly  styled  "  woman's  work."  Not  only  have  her 
hands  been  trained  to  glide  dexterously  over  the  key 
board,  but  she  has  made  every  day  of  her  life  tell, 
and  the  result  of  her  industry  is  that  she  is  skilled  in 
painting,  crayon  work,  artistic  embroidery,  dress 
making,  cooking  and  all  that  goes  to  make  up  an 
accomplished  woman. 

This  brief  sketch  has  been  given  with  the  hope 
that  young  people,  who  wish  to  accomplish  any  par 
ticular  pursuit  in  life,  may  herein  find  an  example  of 


230 


Evidences  of  Progress 


what  a  woman  can  do,  and  the  truth  may  be  brought 
to  them  that  "  there  is  no  excellence  without  great 
labor." 

GLOUCESTER  AGRICULTURAL  AND    INDUSTRIAL   SCHOOL. 


PROF.    W.  B.  WEAVER. 


Professor  W.  B.  Weaver,  the  principal  of  the 
Gloucester  Agricultural  and  Industrial  School — was 
born  April  7,  1852,  at  Winton,  N.  C.  The  first 
school  he  attended  was  taught  by  his  oldest  brother 
under  a  cart  shelter,  from  there  to  a  log  hut 


Among  Colored  People.  231 

which  had  been  used  as  a  barn,  making  seats  out 
of  boxes  and  plank  boards.  In  1869  he  spent  a  few 
months  in  a  public  school,  where  he  was  advanced  to 
the  grade  from  which  he  could  enter  Hampton  Normal 
and  Agricultural  Institute,  Hampton,  Va.  He 
worked  his  way  through,  and  in  1873  began  teach 
ing  his  first  school,  in  his  native  State,  having  in  his 
school  112  pupils.  In  1875  and  1876  he  taught  in 


THE  LOG  CABIN. 


the  Valley  of  Virginia,  in  1878,  at  Williamsport, 
Pa.,  and  in  the  fall  of  1879,  he  returned  to  Virginia, 
and  looking  for  a  fruitful  field,  was  sent  by  Gen.  S. 
C.  Armstrong  to  Gloucester  county,  where  he  be 
gan  this  noble  effort  for  the  uplifting  of  his  race. 
He  opened  school  in  December,  1879,  m  a  ^^e  l°g 
cabin,  which  was  used  by  slaves  as  a  meeting-house 
before  the  war.  In  this  dark  room  he  taught  over 
75  pupils.  He  soon  caused  the  people  in  the  com 
munity  to  see  and  feel  the  need  of  education  ;  and 
securing  the  co-operation  of  the  School  Board  and 
by  the  aid  of  the  Colored  people,  a  two-story  building 


232 


Evidences  of  Progress 


was  erected  known  as  Bethel  Public  School-house 
Here  196  pupils  were  in  attendance  and  three 
teachers  employed.  His  school  did  not  close  at  the 
end  of  the  public  school  term  of  five  months  as 
other  schools  ;  but  by  keeping  the  people  interested, 
he  raised  money  enough  to  continue  for  eight  months. 
Seeing  the  need  of  an  industrial  school  for 
Gloucester  and  surrounding  counties,  he  gave  up  the 
public  school  work  and  entered  upon  the  work  of 


BETHEL  PUBLIC  SCHOOL. 

establishing   an   industrial    school.     An   educational 

o 

mass-meeting  was  called  in  which  the  Board  of 
Trustees  were  elected.  Prof.  Weaver  then  com 
menced  the  work  of  raising  money  for  the  proposed 
school.  In  October,  1888,  he  opened  school  with 
four  pupils  in  a  board  house  once  used  for  a  store. 
Coming  out  of  a  well-arranged  crowded  school-room 
into  this  dilapidated  make-shift  with  only  four  pupils, 
made  him  feel  strange.  But  having  made  a  start  in 
the  direction  which  he  believed  to  be  right,  he  did  not 
look  back,  but  daily  pressed  on  the  work  of  teaching. 


Among"  Colored  People. 


233 


In  1890,  thirty -three  acres  of  land  were  bought 
and  Richmond  Hall  commenced.  In  October  of  that 
year  he  opened  school  in  this  building  though  only 
partly  finished. 


RICHMOND  HALL. 

Since  that  time  120  acres  more  of  land  have  been 
purchased,  a  large  farm  put  under  cultivation,  other 
buildings  erected,  and  industrial  shops  opened. 
One  large  building  known  as  Douglass  Hall  has  re 
cently  been  erected  and  in  use,  though  no4t  completed. 
It  is  a  three-story  building  78  x  60  in  size  and  will 
cost,  when  completed,  upward  of  $6,000. 


234 


Evidences  of  Progress 


The  school  is  located  in  Gloucester  county,  on 
York  river,  and  is  accessible  by  a  daily  line  of 
steamers  plying  between  Baltimore  and  West  Point. 

It  is  in  easy  reach  of  over  30,000  colored  people. 
It  has  sent  out  several  graduates,  who  are  doing 
good  work  among  their  people  and  for  their  coun- 


DOUGLASS    HALL. 


try.     There   are   at   present   ninety-seven   pupils  on 
roll,  and  the  school  property  is  valued  at  $15,000. 

Mrs.  A.  B.  Weaver,  the  wife  of  Prof.  Weaver,  has 
been  a  strong  helper  with  him  in  this  work.  He 
says  that  his  success  is  largely  due  to  her  constant 
work,  wise  counsel  and  strong  faith  in  God.  Many 
times,  when  the  way  would  be  dark,  and  to  con 
tinue  in  this  industrial  school  work  looked  impos 
sible,  she  would  encourage  him  to  hold  on  a  few 


Among  Colored  People. 


235 


days  longer.  She  graduated  from  the  Albany  High 
School  of  New  York  in  1880,  and  in  '8 1  became 
one  of  his  assistant  teachers  in  the  Bethel  Public 


MRS.  ANNA    B.  WEAVER. 


School,  and  she  has  stuck  firmly  to  the  work  ever 
since. 

The  object  of  this  school  is  to  make  good  and 
useful  citizens,  to  train  teachers,  preachers,  mechanics, 
farmers  and  leaders  for  the  race. 

The  school  depends   largely  on   charity  for  sup- 


236  Evidences  of  Progress 

port.  The  colored  people  in  Gloucester  are  very 
proud  of  this  school,  its  work  and  its  workers,  and 
contribute  freely  of  their  small  means  to  its  support. 
It  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Hampton  school  and  is 
known  as  Hampton's  second  son,  and  shows  the 
wonderful  influence  of  that  school.  It  also  shows 
how  the  colored  people  are  striving  to  help  them 
selves,  and  how  they  succeed  when  they  have  had  a 
chance  in  such  schools. 

SCHOFIELD   SCHOOL. 

This  school  was  established  in  1868  by  Martha 
Schofield. 

It  was  started  in  a  little  frame  schoolhouse  which 
was  soon  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  To-day 
the  property,  entirely  free  from  debt,  is  worth  $30,000, 
and  includes  two  substantial  brick  buildings,  and  two 
frame  buildings  in  Aiken,  S.  C.,  with  a  farm  of  281 
acres  three  miles  distant. 

Through  all  these  years  it  has  influenced  and 
moulded  many  lives.  In  the  North  and  South,  in 
the  city  and  country,  you  will  find  colored  men  and 
women  who  will  tell  you  that  they  received  their 
education  at  the  Schofield  School. 

Much  has  been  done,  much  remains  to  be  done. 
In  the  country  places,  in  the  towns  and  villages  of 
the  South,  are  hundreds  of  young  men  and  women 
growing  up  in  the  densest  ignorance — in  ignorance 
cf  the  commonest  decencies  and  proprieties  of  life — 
with  minds  capable  of  greatest  effort,  but  darkened 


Among  Colored  People.  237 

and  obscured  ;  with  immortal  souls  clouded  with  su 
perstition  and  the  teachings  of  ignorant  preachers. 
They  reach  out  their  hands  to  us  with  the  cry: 
14  Come  over  and  help  us ! "  What  can  we  do  for 
them  ? 

In  our  schoolrooms  they  receive  thorough  train 
ing  in  the  branches  of  a  common-school  education. 
In  the  boarding  department  they  may  receive  indus 
trial  instruction  which  will  fit  them  to  take  up  the 
duties  of  everyday  life.  Daily  contact  and  associa 
tion  with  refined,  cultured  teachers  will  develop  latent 
possibilities,  will  arouse  new  ambitions  and  longings 
for  a  higher,  purer  life.  Even  a  few  months'  sojourn 
at  the  institution  leaves  an  indelible  mark  on  the 
character.  When  a  student  comes  back  year  after 
year  until  he  has  completed  the  required  course  of 
study,  his  growth  is  more  rapid,  the  results  of  incal 
culable  value.  Not  until  one  realizes  the  narrowness, 
the  poverty  of  the  environment  from  which  such  a 
student  comes,  can  one  fully  estimate  the  benefit  of 
such  an  institution.  Nor  does  the  good  stop  with 
the  one  directly  benefited.  As  the  scholars  go  out 
into  their  homes  to  be  teachers  and  workers,  they 
carry  the  knowledge  gained,  and  the  light  in  their 
own  hearts,  and  thus  reach  multitudes  with  whom 
we  never,  directly,  come  in  contact. 

There  are  those  whose  lives  are  consecrated  to 
this  work,  whose  daily  time  and  strength  are  spent 
among  these  people  for  their  uplifting.  There  are 
constant  calls  on  their  sympathy,  constant  appeals 
for  help,  but  unless  the  help  and  support  comes  from 
the  North  they  cannot  respond. 


Evidences  of  Progress 

Their  greatest  need  is  a  larger  Endowment  Fund 
to  meet  the  current  expenses,  that  the  labor  and  care 
connected  with  the  raising  of  money  may  be  ren 
dered  unnecessary,  when  there  would  be  more  time 
and  strength  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  work  at 
their  doors. 

Can  there  be  a  greater  privilege  than  to  use  the 
money  the  Lord  has  sent  them  than  bringing  into 
the  fold  some  of  His  stray  lambs?  "For  I  was  an 
hungered  and  ye  gave  me  meat ;  I  was  thirsty  and 
ye  gave  me  drink  ;  I  was  a  stranger  and  ye  took  me 
in ;  I  was  naked  and  ye  clothed  me ;  I  was  sick  and 
ye  visited  me ;  I  was  in  prison  and  ye  came  unto 
me." 

Who  will  open  the  door  of  knowledge  to  these 
minds,  held  in  the  bondage  of  ignorance;  who  will 
help  to  feed  the  souls  hungering  and  thirsting  for  the 
bread  of  life;  who  will  aid  them  in  their  attempt 
to  clothe  these  rude,  untrained  spirits  in  the  gar 
ments  of  refinement  and  culture,  in  which  even  they 
may  stand  arrayed  ?  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it 
unto  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  unto 
me." 


Among  Colored  People.  239 


THE   REED    ORPHAN    HOME. 

The  Reed  Orphan  Home,  at  Covington,  Ga.,  was 
founded  by  Mrs.  Dinah  P.  Pace,  who  was  gradu 
ated  from  Atlanta  University,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  1883. 
During  this  year  (1883)  Mrs.  Pace  went  to  Coving- 
ton  to  teach  for  a  few  months  only,  but  while  there 
she  became  greatly  interested  in  the  work  of  uplift 
ing  her  race.  Her  labors  did  not  end  with  the  rou 
tine  of  ordinary  school  duties,  for  she  visited  the 
homes  and  assisted  in  caring  for  the  little  ones  of  the 
families,  very  few  of  which  did  not  greatly  need  her 
services.  Her  interest  in  both  mother  and  children 
soon  caused  her  to  take  under  her  roof  several  chil 
dren  who  were  left  orphans. 

The  institution  has  grown  considerably  during  the 
last  few  years.  The  work  is  quietly  carried  on  with 
out  attracting  any  great  amount  of  notice  from  other 
towns  or  cities.  With  the  aid  of  Northern  benefac 
tors  and  a  few  friends  of  the  neighborhood,  several 
buildings  have  been  erected,  but  these  are  fast  be 
coming  insufficient,  owing  to  the  rapid  growth  of 
the  school. 

Mrs.  Pace  is  assisted  by  three  other  teachers,  who 
are  also  either  graduates  or  under-graduates  of  At 
lanta  University. 

The  children  of  the  "  family  "  spend  their  vacation 
in  the  country,  taking  care  of  a  farm  upon  which 


Evidences  of  Progress 

many  articles  of  food  for  the  winter  are  produced, 
As  far  as  the  means  at  hand  permits,  the  children 
are  being  trained  industrially,  as  well  as  intellectually. 
The  work  is  not  confined  to  any  one  denomination ; 


MRS.    DINAH    P.    PACE. 


It  is  entirely  unsectarian.  Especial  effort  is  being 
made  to  prepare  those  under  her  charge  for  the 
higher  duties  of  life,  both  as  citizens  and  Christians. 
Like  most  institutions  of  this  character,  the  "  Reed 
Home  "  is  greatly  in  need  of  means.  It  is  to  be 


Among  Colored  People.  24! 

hoped,  however,  that  a  brighter  future  awaits  it,  and 
that  the  noble  work  may  be  abundantly  prospered. 
No  one  can  realize  what  it  is  to  care  for  a  large 
number  of  children,  bestowing  upon  each  a  mother's 
affection — none  can  know  but  those  who  have  under= 
taken  such  a  labor  of  love. 


THE   A.  &  M.  COLLEGE,  GREENSBORO,  N.  C. 

The  A.  &  M.  College,  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  is  a 
State  school  for  the  education  of  the  colored  youth 
of  North  Carolina.  The  buildings  and  appointments 
are  the  best  of  any  school  in  the  South,  except  Fisk 
University.  While  the  main  object  at  this  institution 
is  to  prepare  teachers  for  the  State,  they  have  a  splen 
did  industrial  department.  In  the  machine  shop  a 
young  man  made  a  perfect  steam  engine,  which  was 
the  first  made  by  a  colored  man  in  the  State.  Another 
student  made  in  the  wood  shop  a  valuable  office 
desk  and  another  a  handsome  pulpit.  I  think  I  can 
safely  say  that  the  wood  shop  and  machine  shop  have 
the  best  set  of  tools  and  machinery  I  have  seen  any 
where.  Prof.  Jas.  B.  Dudley,  A.  M.,  who  is  presi 
dent  of  this  school,  is  a  native  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. 
He  received  his  education  at  the  public  schools  of 
Wilmington,  and  he  also  attended  the  Institute  for 

o 

colored  youths  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  Shaw  Univer 
sity  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.  Prof.  Dudley  began  teaching 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  State  in  1876,  and 
has  been  thus  engaged  ever  since.  As  president  of 
16 


242  Evidences  of  Progress 

the  State  College  he  has  improved  the  condition  of 
the  school  and  also  increased  the  attendance  very 


PROF.  JAS.  B.  DUDLEY,  A.  M. 

much.     He  has  been  prominent  in  the  literary  world 
as  a  writer  for  both  papers  and  magazines. 

THE    GEORGIA    STATE    INDUSTRIAL    COLLEGE. 

The  Georgia  State  Industrial  College  is  a  State  in- 


Among  Colored  People.  243 

stitution,  the  only  one  of  its  kind  in  Georgia  for 
colored  youths.  It  is  endowed  by  the  General  Gov 
ernment  and  supported  by  the  State.  The  grounds 
contain  about  eighty-six  acres,  consisting  of  thirty- 
five  acres  in  the  campus  and  fifty-one  acres  in  the 
college  farm.  The  campus,  shaded  by  tall  live-oaks, 
festooned  by  pretty  pendant  moss,  is,  for  natural 
scenery,  the  most  attractive  in  the  State.  The  loca 
tion  is  perfectly  healthful. 

The  college  farm  is  separated  from  the  campus 
only  by  the  railroad,  by  which  passengers  are  con 
veyed  from  the  city  to  their  grounds.  There  are  at 
present  the  following  buildings  on  the  grounds : 
Dormitory,  two  school  buildings,  chapel,  farm  house, 
blacksmith  shop,  wheelwright  and  carpenter  shops 
and  four  cottages  for  the  professors. 

The  courses  at  present  established  are  the  indus 
trial,  sub-normal  and  collegiate. 

Richard  R.  Wright,  A.  M.,  LL.  D.,  who  is  presi 
dent  of  the  Georgia  State  College,  was  born  of  slave 
parents,  and  is  a  very  remarkable  man,  and  one  of 
the  best-educated  men  of  his.  race,  and  one  of  the 
most  prominent  educators  in  the  country.  I  was 
very  much  impressed  with  the  most  excellent  work 
at  the  State  school,  both  in  the  class-room  and  work 
shop.  There  is  no  doubt  but  a  great  work  is  being 
done  for  the  colored  youth  through  Prof.  Wright's 
very  able  efforts. 

In  the  late  war  with  Spain  Mr.  Wright  was  ap 
pointed  as  one  of  the  regular  paymasters,  and  did  the 
work  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  his  race.  He 


244 


Evidences  of  Progress 


has  been  something  of  a  political  leader  in  the  State 
of  Georgia;  but  his  greatest  work  has  been  as  an 
educator.  In  1878  he  called  the  first  convention  of 


PROF.   RICHARD   R.  WRIGHT,   A.M.,   L.L.  D. 


colored  teachers  ever  assembled  in  Georgia,  and  for 
three  years  was  president  of  that  convention.  Mr. 
Wright  is  the  founder  of  the  Ware  High  School  at 
Augusta,  Ga.,  the  first  high  school  for  colored 


Among  Colored  People. 


245 


youths,  and  the  only  one  supported  by  city  funds  in 
the  State. 

STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL. 

The  Slater  Industrial  Academy  was  incorporated 


PROF.  S.  G.   ATKINS,  A.  M. 

September  28,  1892.  The  State  Normal  School  was 
established  March  13,  1895  ;  the  Legislature  appro 
priating  $1,000  per  annum  for  its  maintenance.  This 
institution  is  located  at  Winston-Salem,  N,  C. ;  Prof, 
S.  G.  Atkins,  A.  M-.,  Principal. 


246  Evidences  of  Progress 

The  Governor  of  North  Carolina  has  the  following 
to  say  for  him : 

STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA, 
EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT, 

RALEIGH,  June  21,  1894. 

Prof.  S.  G.  Atkins  is  a  distinguished  educator,  and 
a  man  of  great  moral  worth  and  fine  intellectual 
capacity. 

He  is  deeply  interested  in  the  moral,  intellectual 
and  material  advancement  of  his  race,  and  his  un 
tiring  efforts  in  this  direction  should  have  the  recog 
nition  and  support  of  all  who  desire  the  improvement 
of  their  fellow-beings. 

His  high  standing  in  this  State  is  beyond  question, 
and  entitles  his  claims  to  your  earnest  consideration, 
and  I  trust  that  you  will  lend  him  what  assistance 
you  can. 

Prof.  Atkins  has  been  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
field  of  education,  and  his  example  and  personal  en 
deavors  have  exerted  a  beneficial  influence  on  the 
fortunes  of  his  race.  I  take  pleasure  in  endorsing 
him.  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

ELIAS  CARR,  Governor  N.  C. 

Mr.  Atkins  may  feel  proud  of  the  high  praise 
given  him  by  the  Governor.  His  school  opened  in 
a  small  building,  20x40,  with  one  teacher  and  25 
pupils.  The  school  now  has  twelve  teachers  and  last 
session  enrolled  250  pupils  in  all  departments,  and 
Jias  property  valued  at  $25,000. 


Among  Colored  People.  247 

This  institution  is  founded  on  the  idea  that  intel 
lectual  development  and  industrial  training  should 
go  hand  in  hand. 

The  departments  of  instruction  may  be  denomi 
nated  as  follows:  I.  Industrial.  2.  Literary.  3.  Musi 
cal.  The  literary  department  has  in  view  chiefly  the 
preparing  of  teachers  for  the  public  schools  of  the 
State. 

Both  races  have  contributed  help,  and  especially 
white  men  of  means  in  Winston-Salem. 

DELAWARE    STATE  COLLEGE. 

Established  in   1891. 

The  State  of  Delaware  has  at  last  been  aroused  to 
a  sense  of  its  duty  toward  the  education  of  the  Negro, 
and  in  1891  the  Legislature  of  Delaware  gave 
$8,000,  and  in  1893  $1,000.  The  first  $S,ooo  was 
for  buildings.  The  school  is  located  two  miles  north 
of  Dover,  the  State  Capital,  on  the  Loockerman  farm, 
a  tract  of  about  one  hundred  acres.  A  workshop 
has  been  erected  and  fitted  with  tools  and  machinery 
for  teaching  the  industrial  arts.  Rev.  W.  C.  Jason, 
A.  M.,  D.  D.,  a  very  able  young  colored  man,  has 
been  elected  president  of  this  State  Institution.  Mr. 
Jason  is  a  graduate  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary. 
Professor  Lorenzo  D.  Hileland  has  charge  of  the 
departments  of  Mathematics  and  Physics,  also  is 
superintendent  of  industrial  work. 

This  Institution  is  the  most  northern  State  School 
now  in  operation  for  the  education  of  the  race. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

-.«-.. 

ATLANTA    UNIVERSITY. 

ATLANTA  UNIVERSITY — Rev.  Horace  Bumstead, 
D.  D.,  President — located  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  has  special 
claims  for  recognition  and  support  because  of  the 
somewhat  unique  character  of  its  work  for  the 
Negro.  It  is  not  duplicating  the  educational  work 
done  by  the  State  or  most  other  private  institutions. 
It  is  supplementing  and  strengthening  the  work  of  the 
public  schools  and  of  private  industrial  and  trade- 
schools  by  furnishing  thoroughly  trained  teachers 
and  manual  training  superintendents  to  carry  on  the 
elementary  and  industrial  education  of  the  masses. 
It  is  elevating  and  purifying  the  domestic  and  civic 
life  of  the  Negroes,  by  furnishing  those  moral  and 
spiritual  forces  needed  to  counteract  the  gross  ma 
terialism  which  threatens  to  engulf  them.  It  is  pro 
viding  intelligent  and  conscientious  leaders  for  this 
race  so  sadly  deficient  in  power  of  organization,  so 
that  it  may  become  self-directing  and  cease  to  be, 
what  it  has  so  long  been,  a  dependent  race.  To 
accomplish  all  this  Atlanta  University  is  now,  more 
than  almost  any  other  institution  in  the  South,  con 
fining  itself  to  the  work  of  Higher  Education.  It 
receives  no  students  who  have  not  had  a  good  gram 
mar-school  training  or  its  equivalent. 

Higher  Education  is  not  given  to  the  Negro  in 
(248) 


Among  Colored  People. 


249 


Atlanta  University  in  any 
but  with  a  "practical  end 
made  to  force  it  upon  the 
masses  of  the  race,  but  to 
give  it  to  the  few  for  the 
sake  of  the  masses.  It  is 
not  given  to  these  selected 
few  as  a  luxury,  but  as  a 
trust;  not  as  a  mere  means 
of  personal  profit  and  enjoy 
ment,  but  as  an  equipment 
for  the  service  of  others. 
It  does  not  educate  the 
students  away  from  labor, 
but  from  lower  to  higher 
forms  of  labor,  more  prof 
itable  to  himself  and 
others.  It  does  not  dis 
honor  manual  toil  even  in 
its  humblest  forms. 

Industrial  training  is  an 
integral  part  of  the  Higher 
Education  which  Atlanta 
University  gives,  and  it  is 
compulsory  upon  all  stu 
dents.  It  differs,  however, 
from  that  which  is  found 
in  the  more  distinctively 
industrial  or  trade  schools 
productive  industry.  The 
rather  than  commercial. 


merely  sentimental  spirit, 
in  view.     No  attempt  is 


No  attempt  is  made  at 
methods  are  educational 
The  shop  exists  for  the 


250  Evidences  of  Progress 

boy  rather  than  the  boy  for  the  shop.  As  soon  as 
skill  is  acquired  that  might  have  some  commercial 
value  in  some  one  particular  direction,  the  boy  is  set 
to  learning  something  else  that  he  may  have  skill  in 
many  directions.  He  is  himself  the  product  of  the 
shop  rather  than  the  table  or  wheelbarrow  which  he 
might  make  for  the  shop. 

Graduates  to  the  number  of  nearly  300  have  been 
sent  out  during  the  past  twenty-six  years  from  the 
College  and  Normal  courses.  Of  these  about  two- 
thirds  are  teaching,  mostly  in  public  grammar  and 
high  schools,  in  Southern  cities  and  towns.  In  the 
other  third  of  the  living  graduates  are  ministers, 
lawyers,  doctors,  business  men,  and  married  women. 

Students  to  the  number  of  265  are  enrolled  this 
year  in  Collegiate,  Normal,  and  Sub-normal  classes 
under  twenty-three  officers  and  teachers.  Rather 
more  than  half  of  the  students  are  young  women. 
Nine-tenths  of  the  whole  number  are  members  of 
churches. 

The  institution  is  chartered,  is  controlled  by  an 
independent  Board  of  Trustees,  is  undenominational 
but  earnestly  Christian  in  its  religious  influence, 
owns  sixty-five  acres  in  the  city  of  Atlanta  with  four 
large  brick  buildings,  and  other  property,  valued  at 
$250,000.  In  strategic  location,  efficient  organiza 
tion,  successful  maintenance  of  high  standards,  and 
opportunities  for  future  development  and  usefulness, 
few  institutions  present  so  strong  a  claim  for  liberal 
support  and  permanent  endowment. 

An   endowment  of  at   least   $500,000  is   needed, 


Among  Colored  People.  251 

Of  this  amount  less  than  $5,000  is  as  yet  secured. 
The  institution  has  about  $28,000  of  scholarship  and 
library  funds,  but  these  are  not  available  for  general 
current  expenses.  It  is  earnestly  hoped  that  the 
needed  endowment  may  be  provided  by  friends  either 
in  their  wills  or,  better  still,  by  their  generous  gifts 
while  living.  The  corporate  name  of  the  institution 
is  "  The  Trustees  of  the  Atlanta  University,"  in  At 
lanta,  Ga. 

Donations  to  the  amount  of  $25,000  a  year  are 
needed  to  provide  for  the  present  unendowed  work. 
Scholarships  of  forty,  fifty  and  sixty  dollars  each  are 
solicited  to  cover  the  cost  of  the  tuition  of  one 
student  for  one  year  over  and  above  the  nominal 
tuition  fees  paid  by  the  student.  Gifts  of  any 
amount,  large  or  small,  for  general  current  expenses 
are  asked  for. 

Remittances  may  be  made,  or  requests  for  further 
information  sent  to  the  president  either  at  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  or  at  his  Northern  address  : 

PRESIDENT  HORACE  BUMSTEAD, 

Care  of  the  J.  F.  Bumstead  Co., 

340  Boylston  street,  Boston. 

BEREA  COLLEGE. 

This  remarkable  institution,  which  has  done  in 
some  respects  more  for  the  colored  race  than  any 
other,  is  a  monument  of  the  old  anti-slavery  senti 
ment  of  the  South.  It  was  founded  before  the  war 
among  liberal-minded  Southerners — John  G.  Fee. 
Cassius  M.  Clay,  and  others — and  the  first  principal, 


252  Evidences  of  Progress 

Rev.  J.  A.  R.  Rogers,  and  his  wife  were  so  popular 
that  they  attracted  the  sons  and  daughters  of  slave 
holders  even  while  the  school  was  running  the  gant 
let  of  mobs  and  persecutions. 

Soon  after  the  war  colored  students  were  admitted 
on  the  same  terms  as  whites — the  first,  and  to  this  day, 
almost  the  only  instance  in  the  South.  In  the  words 
of  Geo.  W.  Cable,  u  Berea  is  a  college  which  predicts 
the  millennium." 

This  just  and  fearless  course  has  led  to  none  of  the 
evils  which  were  feared  by  many  good  people. 
There  has  never  been  a  collision  between  white  and 


BOARDING    HALL,    CHAPEL,    LINCOLN    HALL. 

colored  students,  and  the  relation  of  the  two  races  is 
more  pure  and  natural  in  the  sphere  of  Berea's  in 
fluence  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  South. 

The  college  has  given  well-trained  teachers  to 
the  colored  schools  of  Kentucky  and  other  States, 
men  like  J.  H.  Jackson  of  the  Normal  School  of 
Missouri,  J.  W.  Bate  of  Danville,  Ky.,  J.  C.  Lewis 
of  Cairo,  111.,  Green  P.  Russell  of  Lexington,  Kirke 
Smith  of  Lebanon,  Ky. ,  E.  H.  Woodford  of  Ma- 
nassas,  Va. — besides  those  in  other  occupations  like 
Rev.  James  Bond  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  Lieut, 
Woodford  of  the  8th  U.  S.  I. 


Among  Colored  People.  2$ 3 

Berea  enables  young  people  of  color  to  measure 
themselves  by  the  standard  of  the  race  which  has 
had  greatest  opportunities  in  the  past,  and  teaches 
white  young  people  to  know  the  merits  and  respect 
the  worth  of  colored  students. 

The  school,  like  Hampton,  is  earnestly  Christian, 
and  managed  by  a  board  of  trustees  representing  all 
the  leading  Christian  bodies,  no  one  of  which  has  a 
controlling  influence.  It  has  buildings  and  equip 
ments  valued  at  above  $150,000,  including  a  library 
of  over  15,000  volumes,  and  was  attended  in  1898 
by  674  students,  169  of  whom  were  colored.  Alone 
among  Southern  schools  it  has  had  superior  advan 
tages  sufficient  to  draw  a  considerable  number  of 
white  students  from  the  North. 

The  institution  includes  Collegiate,  Normal,  and 
Industrial  Departments,  and  is  making  decided  pro 
gress  under  the  presidency  of  Wm.  Goodell  Frost, 
Ph.  D.,  formerly  of  Oberlin  College,  who  is  a  grand 
son  of  Wm.  Goodell,  the  great  anti-slavery  editor. 
Associated  with  him  are  Geo.  T.  Fairchild,  LL.  D., 
late  President  of  the  State  Agricultural  College  of 
Kansas,  Mrs.  General  Putnam,  and  about  thirty  other 
instructors. 

Receiving  no  aid  from  any  State  or  society,  Berea 
is  mainly  dependent  upon  individual  gifts.  Remit 
tances  should  be  made  to  the  treasurer,  and  bequests 
to  the  trustees,  of  Berea  College,  Berea,  Madison  Co., 
Kentucky. 

This  college  is  now  doing  much  good  for  the  so- 
called  "mountain  whites"  as  well  as  for  colored 
people. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Continuation  of  Independent  Schools. 

"  INSTITUTE    FOR    COLORED    YOUTH." 

PHILADELPHIA  is  known  for  her  facilities  for  educa 
tion.  Few  American  cities  are  better  equipped  with 
schools,  public  and  private — free  schools  and  those 
in  which  tuition  fees  are  demanded — schools  devoted 
to  languages,  schools  devoted  to  art.  In  short, 
everything  that  one  might  desire  as  a  means  for  ob 
taining  an  education  in  any  known  branch  is  provided 
for  the  student,  and  the  road  to  knowledge  is  made 
about  as  easy  as  it  can  possibly  be  made. 

But  of  all  the  schools  provided  for  the  instruction 
of  children,  youths  and  adults,  none  is  of  greater 
importance,  perhaps,  than  that  known  as  the  "Insti 
tute/or  Colored  Youtli"  Strange  to  say,  it  had  its 
origin  in  the  kindly  forethought  of  one  who  had 
once  been  a  slave-holder.  In  the  year  1832  Richard 
Humphreys,  a  native  of  the  West  Indies,  but  at  that 
time  a  citizen  of  Philadelphia,  died,  leaving  $IO,OOO 
to  found  an  institution,  "  having,"  as  he  worded  it, 
"  for  its  object  the  benevolent  design  of  instructing 
the  descendants  of  the  African  race  in  school-learn 
ing,  in  the  various  branches  of  the  mechanic  arts  and 
trades,  and  in  agriculture,  in  order  to  prepare,  fit  and 
qualify  them  to  act  as  teachers." 

This  sum  was  left  with  the  Society  of  Friends  (of 
which  sect  he  was  a  member),  with  the  provision  that 
(254) 


Among  Colored  People.  255 

this  society  should  have  the  care  of  the  institution. 
In  accordance  with  this  bequest  and  stipulation,  in 
1837  the  "  Institute  "  was  founded,  the  sum  of  money 
left  for  the  purpose  amounting  at  this  time,  through 
careful  investment,  to  about  $13,300.  The  charter 
was  not  obtained  from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  until 
1842.  Shortly  after  this  the  sum  of  $18,000  was 
left  by  another  Friend  for  educational  purposes,  which 
was  given  to  further  the  interests  of  the  Institute. 

From  time  to  time,  different  sums  were  bequeathed 
and  bestowed  for  this  enterprise  by  philanthropic 
people  until,  in  1851,  buildings  were  erected  on 
Lombard  street  for  the  permanent  establishment  of 
this  institution  of  learning,  in  which  location  it  re 
mained  until  1866.  At  that  time  it  had  become 
clearly  evident  that  the  enterprise  had  reached  such 
proportions  that  more  ample  and  convenient  accom 
modations  were  urgently  required.  A  movement, 
therefore,  was  set  on  foot  to  accomplish  the  work,  if 
possible,  and  a  sufficient  number  of  interested  friends 
were  found  to  erect  the  large  and  commodious  build 
ing  now  situated  on  Bainbridge  street,  above  Ninth, 
at  a  cost  of  $40,000,  including  the  ground. 

The  officers  and  committees  of  the  corporation  are 
men  belonging  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  but  most 
of  the  teachers  are  women  who  have  worked  hard  to 
obtain  the  education  necessary  to  make  them  capable 
instructors  of  their  own  race.  The  principal,  Mrs. 
Fanny  L.Jackson  Coppin,  whose  attainments  fit  her  for 
the  principalship  of  any  of  the  highest  grade  schools, 
has  received  an  education  that  would  graduate  her 


256  Evidences  of  Progress 

from  any  of  our  first-class  colleges.  Besides  this  she 
is  a  woman  of  strong  common  sense.  The  following 
persons  are  the  instructors  : 

Principal,  Fanny  L.Jackson  Coppin;  principal  of  the 
female  department,  Frazelia  Campbell ;  teacher  of 
natural  and  physical  science,  Edward  A.  Bouchet ; 
teachers  of  English  studies,  Charles  L.  Moore, 
Charlotte  Basse;t,  Julia  F.  Jones,  Fanny  A.  Ramsey; 
teacher  of  sewing,  Martha  F.  Minton ;  teacher  of 
drawing,  Katharine  H.  Ringwalt. 

One  splendid  feature  of  this  school  is  its  prac 
ticality,  an  instance  of  which  is  shown  in  the  fact 
that  the  boys  are  taught  to  sew  as  well  as  the  girls. 
Realizing  that  the  time  will  probably  come  to  most 
of  them  when  they  will  be  obliged  to  do  for  them 
selves  in  every  way,  they  are  taught  sewing  on  but 
tons,  patching,  darning  and  buttonhole-making.  A 
boy  who  goes  out  from  the  Institute  need  never  have 
his  clothes  in  a  dilapidated  condition  because  he  has 
no  "  women  folks  "  to  take  care  of  them. 

"  Heed  life's  demands  "  is  the  watchword  of  the 
principal,  and  everything  is  made  to  conserve  to  that 
idea.  Again,  with  this  in  mind,  there  is  established 
in  connection  with  the  regular  school  of  education 
what  is  known  as  a  "  kitchen  garden."  In  this  the 
little  girls  are  taught  housework  in  a  limited  way. 
They  learn  to  sweep  and  scrub  and  make  beds  and 
all  the  rest  of  that  kind  of  work,  not  only  in  a  prac 
tical  way,  but  from  a  common-sense  point  of  view. 

They  are  not  merely  taught  that  part  of  sweeping 
a  room  is  wiping  the  finger-marks  off  of  the  doors, 


Among  Colored  People.  257 

but  they  learn  that  when  they  bring  the  pail  in  for 
that  purpose  they  must  also  bring  with  them  a  piece 
of  carpet,  or  some  such  thing,  upon  which  to  set  the 
pail  and  thus  prevent  an  ugly  ring  or  splashes  upon 
the  carpet  or  matting  upon  the  floor.  This  is  indeed 
a  practical  education.  "  We  have  this  kitchen  gar 
den,"  says  the  principal,  "  for  many  of  our  pupils 
leave  before  they  have  completed  the  school  course 
to  go  out  to  service  or  to  remain  at  home.  When 
they  go  from  us  they  are  not  igorant  of  the  duties 
which  await  them." 

In  connection  with  the  Institute  there  is  an  indus 
trial  department  open  to  adults  on  three  evenings  of 
the  week,  Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday.  Men 
who  are  otherwise  employed  through  the  day  can 
come  here  to  learn  bricklaying,  carpentry,  painting, 
shoemaking,  tailoring,  plastering  and  shorthand  and 
typewriting.  This  part  of  the  school  is  under  the 
supervision  of  George  Astley,  an  instructor  in  the 
Manual  Training  School  at  Seventeenth  and  Wood 
streets.  For  women,  three  afternoons  in  the  week 
are  given  ;  there  are  lessons  in  dressmaking,  millinery 
and  cooking,  under  the  following  instructors :  Ida  A. 
Burrell,  instructor  in  dressmaking;  M.Anna  Earns, 
instructor  in  cooking. 

There  are  other  schools  supported  by  the  Friends, 
not  only  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  but  in  other 
States.  Each  one  of  these  schools  is  well  managed 
and  is  well  supported.  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot 
devote  more  space  to  this  work,  for  it  is  so  helpful 
and  so  characteristic  of  the  Quakers. 
17 


258 


Evidences  of  Progress 


MRS.    FANNY   L.    JACKSON    COFFIN. 

Mrs.  Fanny  L.  Jackson  Coppin  was  born  in  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,and  was  educated  at  Oberlin  University, 
Oberlin,  Ohio,  from  which  institution  she  graduated. 


MRS.    FANNY  L.   JACKSON   COPPIN. 

In  1865,  she  came,  by  invitation,  to  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
and  accepted  a  position  as  teacher  in  the  "  Institute 
for  Colored  Youth,"  where  she  has  taught  constantly 
ever  since ;  for  the  past  twenty-eight  years  she  has 
filled  the  position  of  principal.  Under  her  manage- 


Among  Colored  People.  259 

ment  the  Industrial  Department  was  originated  and 
is  now  an  important  part  of  the  work  of  this  splendid 
school.  She  is  also  the  originator  of  the  "  Woman's 
Exchange." 

While  there  are  a  great  many  persons  in  Philadel 
phia  who  know  and  admire  Mrs.  Coppin  for  her 
great  executive  ability,  few  really  know  what  a  re 
markable  woman  she  is.  And  yet  but  a  brief  con 
versation  with  her,  or  a  few  moments  contact  and 
association,  suffices  to  convince  any  one  that  she  is 
not  only  a  woman  of  marked  intellectual  power,  but 
one  of  a  wide  and  diverse  scope  of  knowledge,  both 
abstruse  and  applied. 

She  is  a  credit  to  womankind  and  while  her  work 
as  a  teacher  has  been  among  colored  people,  few 
women  are  better  known  as  educators  and  few  if  any 
schools  have  done  a  better  work  in  the  interest  of  the 
race,  than  the  one  she  is  at  the  head  of.  I  am  told 
that  the  "  Institute  for  Colored  Youth  "  was  in  the 
first  place  started  as  an  experiment,  because  it  was 
generally  believed  that  the  Negro  could  not  master 
the  higher  branches  of  education.  But  in  that  the 
colored  youth  has  proven  quite  as  able  as  the  whites 
and  the  results  have  been  most  satisfactory. 

CAMP    NELSON    ACADEMY. 

Camp  Nelson  Academy  is  situated  in  Jessimine 
Co.,  Ky.,  near  Nicholasville,  and  is  midway  between 
Lexington  and  Danville. 

The  academy  has  one  good  school  building  and 
a  dormitory  30x60,  three  stories  high. 


260  Evidences  of  Progress 

To  the  academy  lot  is  added  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  of  land,  as  endowment,  thus  far. 

The  design  is  to  establish  a  first-class  Normal 
School  with  an  Industrial  Department. 

More  lands  are  needed,  and  can  be  secured.  The 
academy  has  a  charter  from  the  State  Legislature,  by 
which  the  school  is  opened  to  all  of  good  moral 
character — colored  or  white. 

Practically,  at  present,  the  school  is  colored.  The 
buildings  are  adjacent  to  the  village  of  Camp  Nelson, 
composed  of  colored  citizens  who  settled  there  im 
mediately  after  the  war. 

Of  the  forty-four  families  in  the  village,  forty-two 
have  their  own  homesteads. 

The  village  has  a  charter  from  the  State  Legisla 
ture  and  no  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold  in  it. 

The  situation  is  central,  high,  and  beautiful.  In 
the  county  of  Jessimine  and  the  five  counties  adja 
cent  there  are  over  forty  thousand  colored  people. 
These  with  Christian  culture  and  skilled  labor  could 
be  a  great  power  for  social  well-being  in  that  centre 
of  the  State. 

Who  will  help  uplift  and  save  ? 

Mr.  John  G.  Fee  is  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Camp  Nelson  Academy,  and  much  could 
be  said  about  him  that  would  be  of  interest  to  the 
public.  Few  men  have  suffered  more  for  the  colored 
people  than  Mr.  Fee,  not  only  in  a  social  way,  but  he 
has  suffered  from  mob-violence  because  of  the  stand 
he  took  in  favor  of  the  race  in  their  educational  inter 
est  and  their  rights  as  American  citizens. 


Among  Colored  People.  261 

THE  CURRY  SCHOOL,  URBANA,  OHIO. 

The  world  will  always  pay  homage  to  those  men 
who  demonstrate  their  ability  to  create  something. 
The  Buckeye  State  gave  birth  to  a  boy  that  has  won 
a  place  in  history  worthy  of  the  highest  praise. 

The  ennobling  inspiration,  that  God  made  him  for 
some  good  purpose,  has  been  a  guiding  star  to  this 
boy,  and,  by  push  and  energy,  he  stands  to-day  a 
conspicuous  figure  in  the  arena  of  great  men. 

It  hardly  seems  possible  for  one  to  accomplish  so 
much  in  a  short  length  of  time  without  material 
means — not  even  proper  encouragement — as  the  sub 
ject  of  this  sketch  has  done.  The  Negro  race  is  full 
of  young  men  who  can  build  lofty  air-castles  and 
plan  for  great  institutions,  but  few  are  found  who  can 
execute  these  plans. 

We  need  young  men  who  are  willing  to  give  time 
for  the  proper  training  of  head,  hand,  and  heart,  so  that 
they  can  come  before  the  world  with  Christian  char 
acter,  intellectually  brilliant,  ambitious  and  full  of 
stick-to-it. 

The  future  of  the  race  will  depend  upon  those  who 
are  qualified  to  impress  the  world  that  the  man  of 
color  can  attain  to  any  height  if  he  will  pay  the  price, 
the  same  as  any  other  man,  in  spite  of  race  preju 
dice. 

Prof.  E.  W.  B.  Curry,  Urbana,  O.,  the  founder  and 
president  of  the  Curry  School,  stands  for  all  this  and 
even  more.  He  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Dela 
ware,  O.,  thirty-one  years  ago.  His  parents  were  poor, 
and  lived  in  a  log  cabin  within  two  months  of  El- 


262  Evidences  of  Progress 

mer's  graduation  in  the  High  School,  which  he  did 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 

His  father,  Rev.  George  W.  Curry,  was  a  Baptist 
minister,  and  his  mother  a  hard-working  woman  who 


PROF.  E.  W.  B.  CURRY. 

found  great  delight  in  the  Christian  training  of  her 
children. 

Prof.  Curry  at  the  age  of  eleven  gave  his  heart  to 
God,  and  connected  himself  with  the  Second  Baptist 
Church  in  Delaware,  O.  He  received  his  training  in 
the  High  Schools,  Michael  College  and  the  Ohio 
\Vesleyan  University  at  Delaware, 


Among  Colored  People.  263 

He  read  law  under  Marriott  and  Wickham,  taught 
a  district  school  near  Wilshire,  Van  Wert  Co.,  O. 
He  was  the  founder  of  the  Public  Night  School  of 
Delaware,  and  taught  as  a  regular  teacher  in  the 
mixed  schools  for  two  years. 

He  worked  night  and  day  to  earn  enough  money 
to  carry  himself  through  school.  At  the  age  of  sev 
enteen  he  founded  the  Curry  School  in  a  shed 
kitchen  12  by  14,  which  was  rented  for  fifty  cents  per 
month,  on  David  street,  Delaware,  O.  He  built  the 
chimney  from  brick-bats  gathered  from  a  brickyard 
where  he  once  worked,  and  furnished  his  little 
shanty  with  $6.15  worth  of  second-hand  goods. 

The  enrollment  on  the  first  night  was  one,  at 
twenty-five  cents  tuition  per  week.  To-day  the 
school  that  had  its  beginning  in  a  fifty-cent  shed 
kitchen  is  located  in  Urbana,  O.,  in  an  elegant  brick 
48  by  88,  with  L,  containing  in  all  twenty-two 
apartments,  used  for  office,  recitation-room,  industries 
and  dormitory. 

The  school  grounds  comprise  sixteen  city  lots, 
one-half  square,  decked  with  a  variety  of  shade  and 
fruit  trees,  four  blocks  from  the  Monument  Square. 

The  school  is  on  equal  footing  with  the  best  regu 
lated  institutions  of  the  North.  They  operate  a 
Higher  Normal,  Literary,  English,  Bible  Course, 
Shorthand  and  Typewriting,  Domestic  Sciences, 
Sowing,  Gardening,  Printing,  Use  of  Tools,  and  Ce 
ment  Paving. 

Students  were  enrolled  this  year  from  thirteen 
States. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

NASHVILLE,   TENN. 

UNDER  this  heading  I  shall  call  attention  to  the 
.advance  made  by  the  colored  people  of  this  great 
city.  Nashville  certainly  has  all  the  essentials  of  a 
great  city ;  it  has  a  rich  tributary  country,  a  healthful 
climate,  river  and  rail  transportation,  proximity  of 
abundant  raw  material,  and  a  sturdy,  healthy  indus 
trious  population. 

Having  all  of  these  then,  Nashville,  the  capital  of 
Tennessee,  situated  in  the  centre  of  a  realm  un 
equalled  in  variety  and  amount  of  production  on 
the  American  continent,  with  100,000  people  largely 
native  to  the  soil  through  long  generations,  is 
assuredly  a  great  city. 

It  has  been  just  thirty-one  years  since  the  war 
closed.  Nashville  then  contained  a  scant  25,000 
people.  Ten  years  later  her  population  was  40,000. 
In  1885  it  was  6o,OOO,  and  to-day  within  her  borders 
there  are  more  than  100,000  souls.  No  better  evi 
dence  of  the  advance  and  the  prosperity  of  the  city 
than  that  could  be  given. 

And  through  this  entire  history,  the  colored  peo 
ple  have  figured  conspicuously  during  every  step  of 
her  progress. 

During  the  many  years  I  have  spent  in  the  South 
among  the  colored  people,  I  have  made  a  special 
(264) 


Among  Colored  People.  265 

study  of  the  development  of  many  of  the  towns  and 
cities.  I  have  done  this  to  ascertain  what  part  the 
colored  man  is  playing  in  this  development.  In 
view  of  the  fact  that  Nashville  has  three  large  col 
leges  for  advanced  studies  and  a  number  of  well- 
equipped  day-schools,  I  devoted  special  attention  to 
this  city. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  a  very  small  percentage 
of  all  the  educated  people,  white  or  colored,  put 
their  education  to  any  practical  use.  I  claim  that 
there  are  as  many,  if  not  more,  of  the  colored  peo 
ple  who  make  good  use  of  their  education  as  any 
other  class  in  this  country.  I  found  in  this  city  (Nash 
ville)  men  of  culture  and  refinement,  who  possessed 
all  the  energy,  enterprise  and  push  that  characterize 
any  thoroughly  civilized  people. 

I  think  I  can  safely  say  that  Nashville,  for  its  size, 
can  boast  of  a  larger  number  of  colored  business 
and  professional  men  than  any  other  Southern  city. 
Among  those  I  met  in  person  was  Dr.  D.  L.  Martin, 
who  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  colored  drug 
gist  in  the  State.  He  has  succeeded  in  building 
up  a  fine  drug  trade,  and  has  purchased  some  very 
good  property.  Speaking  of  colored  Doctors,  I  am 
told  that  there  are  not  less  than  six  in  the  city. 
And  they  each  have  a  good  practice.  One  of  this 
number  is  Dr.  L.  W.  Crostwait,  who  is  of  the  School 
of  Homoeopathy;  but  few  colored  men  have  gone 
into  that  branch  of  medicine. 


266 


Evidences  of  Progress. 


DR.  R.  F.  BOYD. 


Those  who  have  attended  my  illustrated  lectures 
will  doubtless  remember  Dr.  Boyd,  one  of  the  most 
progressive  colored  physicians  in  the  South.  I 


DR.  R.  F.  I50YD. 


have  never  met  a  man  with  whom  I  became  more 
favorably  impressed  than  I  was  with  Dr.  Boyd.  He 
is  a  man  of  deep  thought,  lofty  aspirations  and  un 
tiring  zeal.  His  work  at  Meharry  Medical  and 
Pharmaceutical  College  marks  him  as  one  of  the 


Among  Colored  People. 


267 


most  useful  men  of  the  race.  He  is  a  graduate 
from  this  institution  ;  and  I  feel  that  if  it  had  never 
turned  out  but  one  such  man,  it  would  have  accom 
plished  wonders.  He  came  out  of  this  school  after 
a  hard  struggle  for  an  education,  and  cast  his  lot 
among  the  people  he  had  come  in  contact  with  from 


BOYD    BUILDING. 

day  to  day  in  that  community.  You  have  only  to  go 
into  his  office  any  day  and  see  the  number  of  patients 
waiting  for  him;  then  see  the  splendid  horses  and 
carriages  used  in  his  practice,  to  form  an  idea  of  his 
success.  Still,  one  of  the  best  evidences  of  his  pros 
perity  to  me  was  the  fact  that  all  over  the  city  he 
owns  houses  which  are  rented. 

The  new  Boyd  Building  has  twenty-eight  rooms 
which  are  rented  to  Colored  business  and  professional 
men. 


268  Evidences  of  Progress 

j.  c.  NAPIER. 

Another  interesting  character  in  Nashville  is  Mr. 
J.  C.  Napier,  attorney-at-law,  who  has  a  large  prac 
tice,  and  has  also  accumulated  quite  a  bit  of  valuable 
property.  Mr.  Napier  owns  one  building  that  was 
of  special  interest  to  me.  He  calls  it  "  Napier 
Court."  The  building  is  divided  into  offices.  Every 
room  is  occupied  by  a  colored  professional  man.  I 
think  there  are  nine  offices  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
building.  I  have  never  found  in  any  other  city 
buildings  owned  by  colored  men  where  each  room 
was  rented  to  colored  men.  I  am  pleased  to  note 
that  Mr.  Napier  has  been  selected  as  the  head  of  the 
colored  people's  exhibit  for  the  Centennial  to  be  held 
in  Nashville  in  1897,  but  has  since  resigned. 

After  Mr.  Napier  came  out  of  school  he  was  for 
several  years  active  in  politics,  and  has  held  several 
government  positions.  His  home  is  without  doubt 
one  of  the  most  attractive  it  has  ever  been  my 
pleasure  to  visit.  Mrs.  Napier,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
the  Hon.  John  Mercer  Langston,  is  indeed  a  most 
charming  lady. 

While  I  am  referring  to  lawyers,  I  must  not  forget 
to  mention  the  firm  of  Crostwait  &  Young,  who 
also  have  a  good  practice. 

In  1884  I  met,  for  the  first  time,  Mr.  S.  A. 
McElwee,  who  was  then  keeping  a  small  grocery 
store  at  Brownsville,  Tenn.  Since  that  time  I  have 
watched  his  progress  with  much  pleasure.  He  has 
served  two  terms  in  the  Legislature  and  finished  his 
course  in  law  at  Fisk  University.  He,  like  Dr. 


Among  Colored  People.  269 

Boyd,  began  his  practice  where  he  received  his  educa 
tion.  His  success  has  been  almost  phenomenal. 

I  have  visited  his  office  a  great  many  times  and 
each  time  I  found  quite  a  number  of  white  and 
colored  people  waiting  to  consult  him  in  regard  to 
legal  matters. 

He  owns  a  very  neat  little  home  that  is  furnished 
in  a  most  exquisite  manner,  and  is  just  opposite 
Central  Tennessee  College. 

Among  the  business  men  of  the  city,  I  wish  to 
mention  the  firm  of  Harris  &  Barbour,  furniture 
dealers.  These  men  make  a  specialty  of  dealing  in 
antique  furniture.  Many  an  old  piece  of  household 
furniture  has  been  bought  by  these  enterprising  men, 
fixed  up,  advertised,  and  often  sold  in  New  York  and 
Boston  at  high  prices. 

REV.  PRESTON  TAYLOR. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  a  man  who  will  impress  you  when 
you  meet  him  as  thoroughly  in  earnest.  He  is  never 
idle,  always  with  new  plans,  warm-hearted,  generous, 
sympathetic  and  a  true  brother  to  all  men  who 
deserve  the  recognition  of  earnest,  faithful  workers 
for  Christ. 

In  the  spring  of  1888,  he  embarked  in  the  under 
taker's  business,  and  has  met  with  unbounded  success. 
He  stands  at  the  head  of  his  profession,  not  only  as 
a  funeral  director,  but  as  a  safe  and  wise  business 
man.  It  is  said  by  men  competent  to  know,  that  he 
does  the  largest  business  of  any  man  of  his  race  en 
gaged  in  the  same  business  in  the  country.  He 


270  Evidences  of  Progress. 

owns  and  occupies  the  large  two-story  brick  at  449 
North  Cherry  street ;  the  building  is  42  x  180  feet  and 
it  is  divided  and  furnished  in  the  most  convenient 
style,  with  reception  hall,  office,  chapel,  show  rooms, 
supply  rooms,  trimming  rooms,  dry  rooms,  carpenter 
shop,  paint  shop  and  a  morgue.  In  the  rear  stands 
a  large  stable  occupied  by  eighteen  horses,  seven 
carriages,  hearses  and  all  kinds  of  vehicles  used 
in  the  undertaker's  business.  The  entire  building 
is  lighted  by  electricity  and  fitted  up  with  electric 
bells.  He  is  the  only  man  in  the  city  who  manu 
factures  his  own  goods.  He  works  sixteen  men  in 
his  establishment  and  often  is  compelled  to  call  in 
extra  help.  He  has  the  honor  of  managing  the 
largest  funeral  that  ever  passed  through  the  streets 
of  Nashville.  It  was  the  three  colored  firemen  who 
were  killed  on  January  2,  1892,  in  a  great  conflagra 
tion.  He  built  a  large  catafalque  with  his  own  men, 
which  held  all  three  of  the  caskets,  which  were 
drawn  by  six  beautiful  black  horses,  followed  by 
sixty  carriages  two  abreast,  accompanied  by  all  the 
officials  of  the  city,  the  police  and  fire  departments, 
the  schools,  the  lodges  and  citizens  by  the  thousands. 
In  all  his  business  enterprises  he  ascribes  his  mar 
velous  success  to  his  Heavenly  Father,  and  he  never 
neglects  his  chosen  calling,  the  preaching  of  the  word 
of  God.  In  the  last  few  years  he  has  bought  and 
built  one  of  the  handsomest  and  most  convenient 
churches  in  the  city,  the  Lee  Avenue  Christian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  now  the  pastor. 


Among  Colored  People.  %jt 

Mr.  W.  T.  Hightower  started  in  business  as  a 
dealer  in  old  rags  and  iron  with  a  capital  of  25  cents. 
He  now  owns  a  large  brick  building  and  a  beautiful 
home. 

Mr.  Joseph  Brown,  who  lives  just  outside  of  the 
city  limits,  operates  a  large  nursery  and  hot-house. 
He  does  a  very  successful  business  among  the  best 
people  of  Nashville. 

Mr.  H.  C.  Gibson,  a  blacksmith,  who  started  in 
business  on  a  capital  of  $2.00,  has  made  wonderful 
progress  and  employs  quite  a  number  of  men  in  his 
shop.  His  bills  for  stock  used  in  his  shop  amount 
to  upwards  of  ,$150  per  month. 

Mr.  Geo.  W.  Frazher  holds  a  position  that,  for  the 
South,  is  indeed  unique.  He  is  the  cutter  and  fitter 
for  E.  Fuller  &  Co.'s  shoeshop,  where  he  is  the  only 
colored  man  employed. 

Dr.  Hadley  has  been  a  cripple  the  greater  part 
of  his  life,  but  notwithstanding  that  fact,  he  has 
had  great  success.  He  owns  valuable  property  in 
Nashville,  and  is  at  the  head  of  the  Immaculate  So 
ciety,  a  society  organized  for  the  purpose  of  caring 
for  the  sick  and  burying  the  dead.  His  daughter 
Willa  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  graduate  in 
music  from  Fisk  University. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Crawley,  a  successful  teacher  of  Nash 
ville,  is  another  gentleman  worthy  of  special  mention. 
He,  like  many  others,  has,  by  hard  work  and  strict 
economy,  accumulated  property  and  is  living  well. 

I  have  left  until  the  last  to  be  mentioned,  a  man 
who  ought  to  be  known  throughout  this  entire 


272  Evidences  of  Progress 

country.  I  refer  to  Lewis  Winters,  who  is  the  largest 
egg  and  poultry  dealer  south  of  the  Ohio  River. 
Mr.  Winters  was  born  a  slave,  and  has  never  had  any 
educational  advantages  whatever.  But  while  that  is 
true,  he  has  a  knowledge  of  all  the  essential  qualities 
of  a  successful  business  man.  Mr.  Winters  has  shipped 
goods  to  New  York  by  the  train  load.  I  found  him 
a  very  active  worker  in  the  A.  M.  E.  Church. 

While  I  have  mentioned  quite  a  number  I  have 
not  called  your  attention  to  all,  and  among  those  not 
named  are  Lowery  &  McGavock,  shoe  dealers  and 
makers.  There  are  also  two  colored  men  in  Nash 
ville  who  manufacture  brooms,  and  have  quite  a 
large  trade. 

Mention  at  least  should  be  made  of  Dr.  F.  A. 
Stewart,  A.  M.,  who  is  one  of  the  leading  colored 
physicians  of  Nashville.  He,  like  Dr.  Boyd,  has  a 
very  large  practice.  In  addition  to  his  very  exten 
sive  practice  he  is  engaged  as  teacher  of  Pathology 
at  Meharry  Medical  College.  Dr.  Stewart  is  a  grad 
uate  of  Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
stands  very  high  in  his  profession.  He  also  owns 
very  valuable  property. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

ATLANTA,    GA.,    AND     INDIANAPOLIS,    IND. 

ATLANTA,  Ga.,  is  another  educational  centre.  I 
found  over  fifty  colored  men  in  this  city  engaged  in 
business,  professional  and  other  pursuits. 

I  can  only  mention  a  few  of  these.  I  met  in  Atlanta 
a  very  successful  colored  undertaker  in  the  person  of 
David  T.  Howard,  who  was  prompted  to  go  into  that 
business  because  of  the  way  white  undertakers  treated 
the  colored  people  when  they  had  their  funerals  in 
charge.  Mr.  Howard  has  succeeded  in  building  up 
a  very  large  business.  Atlanta  can  boast  of  one 
of  the  largest  contractors  among  colored  people 
in  the  country.  I  refer  to  Alexander  Hamilton,  an 
ex-slave.  Mr.  Hamilton  showed  me  a  number  of  very 
fine  residences  owned  by  the  leading  white  people  in 
the  city,  which  he  had  the  contract  to  build.  He 
also  drew  his  own  plans  and  specifications  to  work 
from. 

There  were  two  men  in  Atlanta  who  should  have 
special  mention,  namely,  Mr.  Joseph  Rivers,  and  Mr. 
Jacob  McKinley.  The  latter,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  is 
numbered  among  the  dead.  Both  of  these  men  were 
born  slaves  and  they  were  uneducated.  Mr.  Rivers 
was,  by  trade,  a  blacksmith,  and  began  life  for 
himself  without  one  penny.  He  owns  quite  a  deal 
of  property,  among  which  is  what  is  known  as 
18  (273) 


274  Evidences  of  Progress 

"Rivers  Block,"  and  the  business  rooms  are  rented 
to  white  business  men.  Jacob  McKinley  made  quite 
a  large  fortune  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  deal 
ing  in  real  estate.  I  am  glad  to  note  that  several  of 
those  connected  with  school  work  in  Atlanta  report 
that  Mr.  McKinley  was  always  willing  to  contribute 
of  his  means  for  the  education  of  his  race.  He  was 
very  much  loved  by  both  white  and  colored. 

Atlanta  has  several  colored  doctors.  Among  them 
are  Drs.  Butler  and  Slater.  They  came  out  of  school 
together,  and  for  some  years  carried  on  their  pratice 
in  partnership.  Dr.  Slater  now  owns  an  interest  in 
a  drug  store,  while  Dr.  H.  R.  Butler  devotes  all  of 
his  time  to  a  very  extensive  practice.  He  is  also 
Grand  Master  of  Georgia  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons.  Dr.  Butler's  wife  is  a  graduate  of  Spelman 
Seminary,  and  I  want  no  better  evidence  of  the  very 
excellent  work  done  at  that  school  than  the  doctor's 
very  neatly-kept  home. 

Dr.  O.  A.  Lockhart  is  another  young  man  with  a 
good  practice  and  the  owner  of  a  successful  drug 
store.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  who  had  a  hard 
struggle  to  get  an  education. 

Mr.  F.  H.  Crumbly,  who  has  for  some  years  been 
in  the  regular  army,  has  returned  and  opened  a  dry 
goods  and  notions  store.  Mr.  Crumbly  is  a  graduate 
of  Atlanta  University,  and  is  a  man  who  is  much 
thought  of  by  both  white  and  colored  people,  and  is 
meeting  with  success  in  his  business  because  of  his 
popularity  and  good  judgment.  He  stood  high  as  a 
soldier,  and  was  a  commissioned  officer  in  the  late  war 
with  Spain.  He  gave  up  a  business  to  go  in  the  army. 


Among  Colored  People. 

On  the  same  street  is  to  be  found  Mr.  Peter 
Eskridge,  who  learned  while  a  slave. the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  until  1880,  when  he  started 
a  grocery  business,  and  in  this  he  has  succeeded. 
He  had  not  the  educational  advantages  needed  for  a 
successful  business  man,  but  he  educated  his  daugh 
ters  and  since  they  have  been  of  great  help  to  their 
father  in  keeping  his  accounts. 

I  have  always  claimed  that  in  most  cases  in  the 
South  white  people  would  give  some  of  their  patron 
age  to  colored  merchants,  and  I  am  more  and  more 
of  that  opinion  since  I  met  Mr.  Willis  Murphy  &  Son, 
who  carry  on  a  large  and  very  successful  grocery 
business  in  a  part  of  the  city  of  Atlanta  where  they 
reach  a  great  number  of  the  working  people  among 
the  whites,  and  most  of  the  trade  comes  from  that 
class. 

Mr.  G.  M.  Howell,  a  young  man,  does  quite  a  good 
business  as  a  merchant  tailor  in  one  of  the  rooms 
under  the  Kimble  House.  I  can  speak  for  Mr. 
Howell's  workmanship  as  a  tailor  from  the  fact  that 
I  have  had  work  done  by  him.  I  think  a  large  por 
tion  of  his  patronage  comes  from  white  people. 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Pennamone,  of  Atlanta,  does  quite  a 
business  as  a  milliner,  and  strange  to  say  most  of 
her  customers  are  white  people.  I  have  often  won 
dered  why  there  were  not  more  colored  women  in 
the  millinery  business. 

In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned  from  At 
lanta,  there  are  many  engaged  in  various  walks  of 
life,  such  as  conducting  wood  yards,  coal  yards,  dray- 


276  Evidences  of  Progress 

ing  and  doing  just  what  white  people  do  who  want 
to  earn  an  honest  living.  Atlanta  has  six  educa 
tional  institutions,  to  say  nothing  of  the  city  or  public 
schools,  in  which  there  are  employed  some  seventy-five 
colored  teachers.  I  have  been  told  by  the  better  class 
of  white  men  in  the  South,  that  "  colored  people  own 
far  more  property  and  are  getting  along  much  better 
than  the  middle  and  lower  classes  of  the  whites." 
I  have  heard  it  said  that  the  only  progress  being 
made  by  colored  people  in  this  country  was  in  the 
South.  I  am  indeed  willing  to  give  the  South 
credit  for  its  wonderful  development,  but  as  a  friend 
to  the  race  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  I  must  say 
that  the  colored  people  are  also  making  progress  in 
the  North.  True,  many  of  our  successful  men  in  the 
North  came  from  the  South ;  but  they  built  up  their 
business  in  the  North. 

I  met  while  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  some  very  suc 
cessful  people  in  the  persons  of  the  following  gentle 
men  : 

Capt.  J.  Porter  is  employed  as  a  bank  clerk  in  a 
white  bank.  He  is  the  only  colored  man  I  have  met 
holding  just  such  a  position.  The  men  at  the  head 
of  the  bank  regard  him  as  a  very  reliable  and  com 
petent  man. 

The  late  Benjamin  Thornton,  of  Indianapolis,  es 
tablished  for  himself  a  great  reputation  as  a  first- 
class  detective.  He  stood  alone  in  this  respect  as  a 
colored  man.  He  has  often  been  sent  for  to  work  up 
large  cases  in  some  of  our  leading  cities  where  large 
amounts  of  money  and  jewels  have  been  stolen.  Mr. 


Among  Colored  People.  277 

Thornton  was  quite  a  public-spirited  man,  and  has 
done  a  great  deal  to  help  others  secure  homes,  and 
well  thought  of  by  both  white  and  colored. 

The  city  can  boast  of  two  magnificent  barber  shops 
owned  by  colored  men.  One  at  the  Hotel  Dennison 
is  owned  by  Messrs.  Moore  and  Lanear,  costing 
about  $6,000.  The  other  one  is  owned  by  Geo.  L. 
Knox  at  the  Bates  House.  Some  twenty  men  are 
employed  there,  and  several  ladies  in  the  ladies'  hair- 
dressing  department.  This  shop  is  said  to  have  cost 
$10,000.  Mr.  Knox  is  also  the  publisher  of  the 
Freeman,  which  is  mentioned  in  another  part  of  my 
book. 

Mr.  Baptist,  of  Indianapolis,  is  a  very  successful 
contractor,  and  in  1893  built  for  John  C.  New  a  $10,- 
OOO  residence.  There  were  quite  a  number  of  white 
contractors  competing  for  the  work. 

Mr.  Puryear,  of  Indianapolis,  does  a  large  express 
business,  giving  employment  to  quite  a  number  of 
men.  Mr.  Puryear  was  at  one  time,  and  perhaps  is 
yet,  a  member  of  the  city  council. 

H.    L.    SANDERS. 

Mr.  H.  L.  Sanders,  of  Indianapolis,  is  the  only 
colored  man  in  the  country  doing  the  kind  of  work 
he  is  engaged  in.  In  1889  he  began  in  a  small  way 
to  make  jackets  for  butchers,  waiters'  and  cooks'  out 
fits,  also  barbers'  coats  for  shop  wear.  At  first  he 
did  not  have  work  enough  to  keep  one  woman  busy, 
but  now  he  has  several  at  work  all  the  time,  and 
his  sewing  machines  are  operated  by  steam.  And 
aside  from  his  manufacturing  he  carries  a  splendid 
line  of  gents'  furnishing  goods. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

FINE    PENMEN. 

I  DEVOTE  an  entire  chapter  to  Penmen,  because  I 
regard  this  art  as  one  of  the  special  evidences  of  race 
progress.  The  delicacy  of  the  work  and  the  close 
application  to  study  required  to  succeed  in  it  make  it 
doubly  hard  to  command  any  considerable  attention. 

PROF.    RICHARD    HILL. 

Prof.  Richard  Hill,  who  is  principal  of  Writing, 
Drawing  and  Music  in  the  colored  schools  in  Nash 
ville,  Tenn.,  has  much  to  be  proud  of.  Mr.  Hill  is  a 
native  of  Nashville ;  he  attended  the  city  schools 
until  he  had  gone  through  the  ninth  grade.  At  that 
time  the  colored  schools  were  not  carried  any  higher. 
In  order  that  he  might  better  prepare  himself  for  a 
useful  life  in  the  interest  of  his  race,  he  earned  money 
by  blacking  boots  on  the  streets  until  he  saved 
enough  to  attend  Gaines  High  School  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  came  home,  and 
began  teaching  in  the  same  room  where  he  himself 
had  been  taught  his  letters.  We  feel  warranted  in 
saying  that  Mr.  Hill  is  the  only  colored  man  in  the 
country  who  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  Writing, 
Drawing  and  Music  in  so  many  schools.  He  has 
seven  buildings,  fifty-six  teachers,  nearly  4,000 children 
under  his  care  in  the  branches  named.  In  1893  the 
(278) 


Among  Colored  People.  279 

Penman's  Art  Journal,  of  New  York,  held  a  public 
school  writing  contest.  The  colored  children  in  the 
Nashville  schools  were  allowed  to  enter  on  equal 
footing  with  the  whites.  There  were  two  prizes 


PROF.  RICHARD  HILL,  NASHVILLE,  TENN. 

offered  and  I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  colored  schools 
won  them  both.  But  we  are  sorry  to  say  the  colored 
schools  have  not  been  asked  to  take  part  in  any 
other  contests.  Penman's  Art  Journal  said  recently  : 
"  Superintendent  Webb,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  writes 


280  Evidences  of  Progress 

us  that  '  the  winners  of  the  two  certificates  awarded 
to  Nashville  in  The  Journal's  public  school  competi 
tion,  as  well  as  three  other  pupils  whose  names  were 
included  in  the  roll  of  honor,  are  pupils  in  the 
colored  schools  of  that  city.  Richard  Hill,  Assistant 
Supervisor  of  Drawing  and  Writing,  has  charge  of 
the  work  in  these  schools,  and  to  him  should  be 
given  the  credit  that,  without  this  explanation,  would 
naturally  be  given  to  me.'  This  speaks  very  well 
for  the  colored  schools  of  Nashville  and  their  Super 
visor,  himself  a  colored  man,  and  the  only  one  we 
know  of  who  occupies  this  responsible  post.  He  is 
a  fine  writer  and  skilled  in  ornamental  work.  We 
are  reliably  informed  that  he  acquired  this  skill  and 
knowledge  at  the  cost  of  great  personal  sacrifice,  his 
preceptor  being  our  friend,  Lyman  D.  Smith,  the 
well  known  author  and  teacher,  whose  methods  he 
closely  follows.  The  Journal  takes  pleasure  in 
according  this  deserved  recognition  to  Mr.  Hill,  his 
pupils  and  his  race." 

FREDERIC    S.    MONROE. 

Mr.  Frederic  S.  Monroe,  of  New  Bedford,  Mass., 
is  employed  as  stenographer  and  typewriter  to  the 
Pairpoint  Mfg.  Co.  (a  corporation  with  a  paid-in 
capital  of  $825,000,  a  weekly  pay-roll  from  $6,000. 
to  $8,OOO,  employing  a  force  of  several  hundred 
skilled  workmen),  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  gold  and  silver  plated  ware,  casket  hardware,  fine 
cut  glass,  decorated  ware  and  decorated  French  china. 
The  company  ha?  stores  in  New  York,  Chicago, 


Among  Colored  People. 


281 


San  Francisco  and  Montreal  ;  from  each  of  these 
places  as  well  as  from  the  factory  a  force  of  traveling 
salesmen  are  sent  out,  who  cover  the  whole  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada. 

He  has  held  this  position  for  four  years,  and  has 


FREDERIC    S.  MONROE. 


given  perfect  satisfaction.  He  resigned  a  clerkship 
in  the  book  and  stationery  store  of  Robert  W.  Taber 
to  accept  his  present  position.  Was  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Taber  for  about  two  years  and  a  half,  and 


282  Evidences  of  Progress 

prior  to  that  time  had  filled  the  same  position  with 
his  predecessor  in  this  business,  Jas.  M.  Lawton,  Jr. 
Was  with  Mr.  Lawton  for  about  twelve  years,  and 
for  the  last  three  had  entire  charge  of  the  book  and 
stationery  department,  when  he  increased  the  busi 
ness  by  the  purchase  of  a  music  and  art  store. 

So  far  as  the  character  of  the  service  rendered  in 
these  different  positions  is  concerned,  I  think  the 
length  and  regularity  of  the  employment  will  speak 
for  him. 

Speaking  to  Mr.  Monroe  regarding  the  position  he 
now  holds,  he  said  :  "  I  taught  myself  stenography 
as  a  boy  of  twenty,  and  after  having  mastered  it  tried 
to  maintain  such  proficiency  in  it  as  to  be  ready  at 
any  time  to  accept  a  position  in  which  a  knowledge 
of  stenography  would  be  a  prerequisite.  Have 
never  thought  that  '  luck  '  had  anything  to  do  with 
the  opportunities  I  have  had,  and  rather  think  they 
are  due  to  hard  work  in  making  myself  competent, 
and  then,  when  a  chance  was  offered,  to  try  and  be  a 
little  more  than  equal  to  the  demands  made  on  me." 

CHAS.    J.    BECKER. 

While  traveling  in  New  England  a  few  years  ago, 
I  visited  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where  I  met  Mr.  Chas. 
J.  Becker.  This  young  man  executes  some  of  the 
finest  penmanship  I  ever  saw  in  my  life.  He  is  em 
ployed  in  one  of  the  largest  and  best  business  colleges 
in  New  England.  He  has  held  his  present  position 
for  five  years. 

Mr.  Becker  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  in  1858, 


Among  Colored  People.  283 

commenced  his  life-work  in  Chas.  B.  Dennis's  In 
surance  Office  at  nine  years  of  age ;  at  twelve  he  wrote 
a  good  business  hand;  at  fourteen  wrote  all  the  poli 
cies  and  daily  reports  for  that  firm — at  sixteen  his 


C.    J.    BECKER. 


writing  showed  up  to  Mr.  Dennis  so  well,  that  he 
sent  him  to  Boston  to  attend  Kendall's  Normal  Writ 
ing  Institution  where  he  took  a  three  months'  course, 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

COLORED    LAWYERS. 

IN  this  chapter,  I  do  not  attempt  to  call  attention 
to  anything  like  all  of  the  successful  colored  lawyers. 
I  simply  select  from  the  hundreds  of  prominent 
men  practising  law  in  courts  throughout  the  United 
States,  two :  D.  Augustus  Straker  and  T.  McCants 
Stewart. 

D.    AUGUSTUS   STRAKER. 

D.  Augustus  Straker  was  born  in  Bridgetown,  in 
the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  one  of  the  West  Indies,  on 
July  II,  in  the  year  1842. 

His  early  education  was  fostered  by  his  mother,  a 
pious  and  industrious  woman,  who  took  great  pride 
in  her  only  child,  and  strove  by  the  labor  of  her 
hands  to  give  him  a  liberal  education,  his  father 
having  died  when  he  was  eleven  months  old. 

He  received  a  good  English  education  at  the 
Central  High  or  Preparatory  School  of  the  island, 
under  Robert  Pierre  Elliott,  of  Battersea,  England, 
and  afterwards  received  supplementary  training  in 
philosophy  from  lectures  given  by  R.  R.  Rawle,  Princi 
pal  of  Codrington  College,  as  well  as  private  in 
structions  in  Latin,  Greek  and  French,  from  Rev. 
Joseph  N.  Durant,  D.  D.,  of  said  island.  At  the 
early  age  of  seventeen  years  he  became  school 
master  of  one  of  the  principal  schools  of  the  island. 

In  1867,  he  was  induced,  with  two  others,  by  the 
invitation  of  Rt.  Rev.  B.  B.  Smith,  of  the  Episcopal 

Diocese  of  Kentucky,  U.  S.  A.,  on  hearing  preached 
(284) 


Among  Colored  People. 


285 


a  sermon  on  the  cruelties  of  slavery  and  the  de 
plorable  ignorance  of  his  race  in  the  United  States, 
upon  their  emancipation  from  bondage,  to  come  to  the 
United  States  and  engage  in  the  uplifting  of  his  race, 


HON.    D.    AUGUSTUS   STRAKER. 

by  teaching  in  the  schools  of  Kentucky,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Avery  P.  E.  Institute  and  the  Freed- 
men's  Bureau,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Chris 
tian  soldier,  statesman  and  humanitarian,  General  O. 
O.  Howard.  Before  leaving  his  native  land  he  had 


286  Evidences  of  Progress 

commenced  the  study  of  law,  preparatory  to  entering 
the  Middle  Temple,  England.  While  teaching  school 
in  Kentucky  he  was  persuaded  to  prepare  for  the 
ministry  in  the  P.  E.  Church,  but  did  not  enter  upon 
such  duties,  owing  to  the  prejudice  against  color  and 
his  race,  even  in  said  church,  an  inconsistency  which 
he  could  not  reconcile  with  Christian  practices. 

In  1868  Hon.  John  M.  Langston,  then  Dean  of  the 
Law  School  of  Howard  University,  was  engaged  in 
lecturing  through  the  South,  upon  the  advantages  of 
said  institute  to  the  colored  race,  and  the  opportunity 
afforded  to  receive  a  professional  education  therein. 
Mr.  Straker  attended  one  of  such  lectures,  and  was 
attracted  to  the  University.  He  gave  up  his  theo 
logical  studies  and  returned  to  his  first  love,  entering 
Howard  University  Law  School  as  a  law  student  in 
1869,  in  a  class  six  months  advanced.  He  graduated 
in  1871,  with  honor  and  distinction,  and  at  Com 
mencement  delivered  an  address  on  "  The  Necessity 
for  a  Common  Tribunal  Among  Nations  for  the 
Arbitration  of  International  Disputes."  His  views 
then  are  greatly  verified  as  to  the  necessity  of  such  a 
tribunal,  by  the  experiences  of  the  present  day. 
His  learning  in  the  law  and  masterly  discussion  of 
the  subject  secured  him  the  praise  and  commenda 
tion  of  the  scholar  and  statesman,  Hon.  Charles 
Sumner,  of  Massachusetts. 

While  studying  law,  he  secured  a  clerkship  in  the 
Sixth  Auditor's  office  of  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  in  which 
post  he  remained  until  1875.  In  1871  he  was  mar 
ried  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Carey,  his 


Among  Colored  People.  287 

present  wife,  with  whom  he  now  lives,  having  had  no 
children  born  to  them. 

In  1875,  he  resigned  his  position  in  the  Treasury 
Department,  and  went  to  South  Carolina  as  Inspector 
of  Customs,  at  Charleston. 

In  1876,  he  resigned  said  post,  and  began  the  prac 
tice  of  his  profession  in  the  town  of  Orangeburg, 
S.  C,  and  soon  was  recognized  as  a  capable  criminal 
lawyer  by  his  white  brethren  at  that  bar,  and  the 
community  in  general.  In  the  fall  season  of  said 
year,  he  was  elected  to  the  General  Assembly  of  that 
State,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  famous  House,  well 
known  as  the  Hampton-Mackey  dual  Legislature, 
by  which  Governor  Chamberlain,  the  duly  elected 
Governor  of  the  State,  was  driven  from  his  post. 
Mr.  Straker  was  not  long  a  member,  because  of  his 
eviction  with  others,  on  account  of  his  politics,  he 
being  one  of  the  most  prominent  Republicans  of  the 
State.  During  this  period  Mr.  Straker  suffered 
much  persecution  at  the  hands  of  his  political  op 
ponents,  the  Democrats,  in  this  struggle.  He  re 
turned  to  his  constituents  and  was  re-elected  in  1878. 
He  was  again  denied  his  seat.  He  was  again  elected 
in  1880,  and  again  denied  his  seat,  although  on  both 
occasions  receiving  larger  majorities  than  his  politi 
cal  opponents.  The  grounds  of  objection  were  that 
"  he  was  not  a  citizen,"  although  his  naturalization 
papers  were  produced  and  the  proof  of  his  citizen 
ship  evident  and  conclusive. 

In  1882  he  was  elected  by  the  Trustees,  Dean  and 
Professor  of  Common  Law  in  the  University  Law 


288  Evidences  of  Progress 

School  of  Allen  University,  Columbia,  S.  C,  an  in 
corporated  institution  of  learning,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  In  1883,  he  presented  a 
class  of  four  colored  youths  to  the  Supreme  Court 
of  that  State  for  examination  for  admission  to  prac 
tise  law,  the  result  of  his  sole  instruction — the  insti 
tution  being  too  poor  to  hire  a  corps  of  law  instruc 
tors.  These  colored  youths,  the  first  in  the  history 
of  the  State,  were  examined  in  open  court,  and  hav 
ing  passed  a  most  creditable  examination,  as  told  by 
the  court  in  open  session,  were  admitted  to  practice, 
and  became  members  of  the  learned  profession,  and 
the  peers  under  the  law  of  those  who,  but  less  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century  before,  held  them  or  their 
parents  in  slavery.  In  1884,  another  class  was  pre 
sented  by  Mr.  Straker,  examined  and  admitted  by 
the  court.  Mr.  Straker,  having  now  severed  his 
connection  with  the  law  school,  resumed  the  prac 
tice  of  his  profession  at  Columbia,  S.  C.  He  won 
great  distinction  in  the  management  as  attorney  for 
the  defendant  in  the  celebrated  murder  case  of  the 
State  vs.  Coleman,  reported  in  I2th  S.  C.,  the  de 
fence  being  insanity,  in  which  Mr.  Straker  was  de 
clared  to  have  shown  deep  research  in  the  law  of  the 
plea  of  transitoria  mania. 

The  prejudice  of  the  community  keeping  distinct 
all  business  between  black  and  white  of  a  profes 
sional  character,  Mr.  Straker  was  unable  to  support 
himself  and  family  by  his  profession  in  the  South, 
and  after  giving  the  same  a  fair  test,  and  spending 
fourteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  endeavor  to  uplift 


Among  Colored  People.  289 

his  race  in  the  South,  was  compelled  to  seek  a  new 
field.  He  came  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  in  1887,  bringing 
with  him,  from  his  white  fellow-citizens,  the  highest 
testimonials  of  ability  and  character,  who,  while  they 
disliked  him  politically,  admired  and  recognized  his 
legal  ability.  This,  with  his  own  natural  energy  and 
legal  acumen,  soon  gave  him  distinction  in  his  new 
home.  He  soon  found  himself  in  a  fairly  lucrative 
practice,  and  had  for  his  clients  a  large  number  of 
whites,  his  own  race  being  too  poor  to  afford  such. 
He  distinguished  himself  as  an  advocate  of  ability, 
as  was  seen  in  his  victory  of  the  Civil  Rights  case 
of  Ferguson  vs.  Gies,  82d  Michigan,  which  decision 
settled  the  status  of  the  colored  citizen  within 
Michigan,  as  to  his  right  to  accommodation  in  pub 
lic  places,  equally  with  his  white  fellow-citizen.  His 
legal  argument  in  this  case  fully  showed  him  a  cap 
able  and  learned  attorney-at-law. 

He  rose  at  once  to  great  distinction  at  the  bar  of 
Detroit,  and  his  white  brethren  at  the  bar  soon  rec 
ognized  him  as  a  good  lawyer,  a  gentleman  in  his 
manners,  and  a  faithful  advocate.  This  recognition 
was  made  manifest  in  his  election  in  1893,  to  the 
office  of  Circuit  Court  Commissioner  for  Wayne 
County,  Michigan,  a  District  at  that  time  accredited 
with  a  Democratic  majority  of  4,000  voters  ;  while 
Mr.  Straker  was  an  uncompromising  Republican. 
Mr.  Straker's  opponents  for  this  office  were  all  white 
citizens.  He  was  re-elected  to  same  office  in  1895, 
by  a  majority  of  over  7,000 — his  opponents  again 
being  all  white  citizens.  He  now  holds  said  office, 
19 


296  Evidences  of  Progress 

and  is  spoken  of  for  a  third  term,  which  he  is  likely 
to  obtain,  if  not  deprived  through  the  divisions  of  a 
few  of  his  own  race,  who  seem  in  many  instances  not 
content  to  see  one  of  their  own  rise  to  distinction. 

Mr.  Straker  is  widely  known  throughout  the 
United  States,  having  lectured  in  many  States,  and 
attended  wellnigh  all  of  the  principal  conventions, 
held  by  his  race,  since  emancipation.  He  is  a  con 
tributor  to  the  newspapers  and  magazines  of  his  race, 
and  also  of  some  of  the  Anglo-Saxon. 

He  is  an  author,  having  written  a  book  entitled, 
"  The  New  South  Investigated,"  which  has  received  the 
widest  commendation  for  its  cleverness,  impartiality 
and  good  taste.  He  has  also  written  a  unique  law 
pamphlet,  on  the  "  Larceny  of  Dogs,"  showing  con 
clusively  that  punishment  for  stealing  dogs  can  only 
be  by  statute,  dogs  being  at  common  law  of  no  value. 
His  pamphlet  on  "  Reflections  on  the  Life  and  Times 
of  Toussaint-Louverture "  is  interesting  and  shows 
great  race  pride  in  the  writer. 

On  December  14,  1895,  at  a  Conference  of  Colored 
Men  of  the  United  States,  held  in  the  city  of  Detroit, 
Mich.,  Mr.  Straker  was  chosen  President  of  the 
National  Federation  of  Colored  Men  of  the  United 
States  of  America;  an  organization  established  by 
said  conference  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  a  remedy, 
or  putting  an  end  to  the  barbarous  practice  of 
lynching  colored  men  in  the  Southern  States,  for 
alleged  offences,  without  trial  by  law.  Already  Mr. 
Straker  has  placed  this  organization  in  the  confidence 
of  his  race  and  their  white  sympathizers,  and  much 


Among  Colored  People.  29! 

goocl  is  expected  from  the  agitation  created  by  it 
of  the  wrongs  done  the  colored  people  in  the  South, 
both  as  to  their  civil,  as  well  as  their  political  rights. 

T.    MCCANTS   STEWART. 

Mr.  T.  McCants  Stewart  is  one  of  the  most  re 
markable  colored  men  in  the  United  States :  he  is  a 
lawyer  of  unusual  ability.  He  was  born  in  Charles 
ton,  S.  C,  December  28,  1854. 

After  graduating  from  the  common  schools  in 
June,  1869,  he  entered  the  Preparatory  Department 
of  Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
finished  the  course,  entering  college  in  September, 
1871.  He  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class  throughout 
the  course,  making  special  record  in  the  foreign 
languages,  in  belles  lettres,  and  as  a  public  speaker. 
In  the  summer  of  1871,  he  lectured  at  various  places 
in  Virginia.  Although  a  very  young  man,  being 
then  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  was  heard  by 
large  audiences  and  took  back  to  Howard  University 
enough  money  to  get  well  started  in  his  college 
course.  In  the  midst  of  his  junior  year,  feeling  that 
the  facilities  for  the  study  of  the  sciences  were 
better  in  the  University  of  South  Carolina  than  at 
Howard  University,  Mr.  Stewart  left  the  latter  and 
entered  the  former  institution,  and  in  December,  1875, 
he  graduated,  at  the  head  of  his  class,  from  the  Col 
lege  and  Law  Departments  of  the  University  of  South 
Carolina,  delivering  the  validictory  oration,  and 
receiving  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  and 
Bachelor  of  Laws. 


292  Evidences  of  Progress 

Gen.  Robert  B.  Elliott,  one  of  the  ablest  men  of 
his  day,  and,  at  that  time,  one  of  the  most  successful 
practitioners  at  the  South  Carolina  bar,  took  Mr. 
Stewart  into  partnership  and  formed  the  law  firm  of 


T.    McCANTS    STEWART,    ESQ. 

Elliott,  Dunbar  &  Stewart,  which  firm  was  retained 
in  many  important  cases.  Mr.  Stewart  began  his 
professional  career  in  a  murder  case,  in  which  there 
was  unusual  interest  in  every  part  of  the  State.  The 
ablest  attorneys  and  counsel  appeared  for  the  people 


Among-  Colored  People.  293 

and  Gen.  Elliott  and  Mr.  Stewart  appeared  for  the 
defence  The  General  guided  his  young  partner,  but 
imposed  upon  him  the  burden  of  the  work. 

Mr.  Dunbar  died  early  in  1876,  and  Hon.  D. 
Augustus  Straker,  now  Circuit  Court  Commissioner, 
Detroit,  Michigan,  entered  the  law  firm  which  then  be 
came  Elliott,  Stewart  &  Straker.  The  firm  practised  in 
several  counties  of  the  State.  Wherever  he  appeared 
Mr.  Stewart's  management  of  his  cases  was  highly 
skilful,  and  he  was  usually  successful.  The  Claren 
don  Press,  a  newspaper  edited  and  published  b} 
Southern  white  men  at  Manning,  S.  C.,  makes  thr 
reference  to  Mr.  Stewart's  appearance  in  court  there1 
"  We  must  admit  that  Mr.  Stewart  displayed  signa! 
ability  in  the  management  of  several  cases.  His 
respectful  manner  and  modesty  have  created  for  him 
a  favorable  impression  amongst  the  people." 

In  1877,  Mr-  Stewart  accepted  the  chair  of  Professor 
of  Mathematics  in  the  State  Agricultural  College  of 
South  Carolina,  at  Orangeburg,  S.  C.  He  resigned 

O  O'  £3 

in  1878  to  attend  the  post-graduate  course  of  philoso 
phy  at  Princeton  College  under  Dr.  James  McCosh, 
and  he  also  pursued  the  theological  course  in  the 
seminary  there.  He  went  to  New  York  in  1880,  and 
made  a  national  reputation  in  the  ministry  as  an 
earnest  and  eloquent  preacher.  In  November,  1882, 
he  resigned  from  the  church  to  accept  the  position 
of  Professor  of  Belles  Lettres  and  Law  in  the  College 
of  Liberia,  on  the  West  Coast  of  Africa.  After 
traveling  in  Europe,  he  went  to  Liberia,  remaining 
there  until  January,  1884.  He  returned  to  the 


294  Evidences  of  Progress 

United  States  and  was  appointed  General  Agent  foi 
Industrial  Education  in  Liberia,  West  Africa.  He 
traveled  extensively  in  the  New  England  States, 
making  addresses  in  the  principal  cities.  He  was 
everywhere  received  with  great  enthusiasm,  and 
Joseph  Cook  gave  up  the  platform  of  Tremont  Tem 
ple  to  Mr.  Stewart,  who  made  a  brilliant  address 
there  on  March  23,  1885,  to  an  audience  which  ap 
plauded  him  heartily,  and  his  address  was  subse 
quently  published  in  full  in  the  New  York  Independent 
of  April  2,  1885. 

In  the  fall  of  1885,  Mr.  Stewart  decided  to  return 
to  the  practice  of  law,  and  in  January,  1886,  he 
was  admitted  before  the  General  Term  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  in  New  York  City.  The 
New  York  Freeman  of  January  9,  1886,  contained 
this  reference  to  the  proceedings  in  Court : 

"  On  Wednesday  morning,  before  the  Supreme 
Court  in  General  Term,  Algernon  S.  Sullivan,  Esq., 
rose  and  submitted  the  papers  of  T.  McCants  Stewart, 
signed  by  Chief  Justice  Simpson  of  the  South  Caro 
lina  Supreme  Court ;  and  after  a  brief  and  generous 
reference  to  Mr.  Stewart's  ability  and  character,  moved 
that  he  be  admitted  to  practise  law  in  the  courts  of 
New  York.  Hon.  A.  M.  Keiley,  late  minister  to 
Austria,  seconded  the  motion.  Mr.  Keiley  said  he 
deemed  it  a  great  privilege  to  speak  in  behalf  of  this 
learned  and  well-beloved  member  of  the  African  race, 
and  was  sure  the  members  of  the  bar  would  extend 
to  Mr.  Stewart  a  fraternal  welcome.  Mr.  Stewart 
was  then  sworn  in.  Ex-Governor  Chamberlain,  who 


Among  Colored  People.  295 

was  absent  from  the  city,  joined  Mr.  Keiley  in  sec 
onding  the  motion  for  admission." 

Mr.  Stewart  has  been  a  very  successful  practitioner, 
and  has  appeared  in  several  important  cases.  He 
has  confined  himself  to  the  civil  practice,  and  enjoys 
the  unusual  distinction  of  having  his  efforts  at  the 
bar  commended  in  the  written  and  published  opin 
ions  of  several  judges.  In  a  decision,  rendered  by 
the  Court  of  Appeals,  which  is  the  tribunal  of  final 
resort,  the  court  says  :  "  On  the  argument  here,  the 
accused  (convicted  of  murder)  was  represented  by 
counsel  of  his  own  race,  who  argued  the  case  with 
courage  and  zeal,  and  a  professional  ability  worthy 
of  commendation"  (140  N.  Y.,  359).  In  an  opinion 
by  the  Surrogate's  Court  of  the  city  and  county  of 
New  York,  the  Surrogate  says  :  "  The  masterly  ar 
gument  of  counsel  for  the  contestant  greatly  im 
pressed  me.  His  conduct  of  the  proceeding  has 
been  so  admirable  that  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to 
commend  him.  He  has  throughout  the  case  dis 
played  all  the  qualities  of  a  safe  adviser  and  a  skilled 
and  eloquent  advocate.  His  appearance  before  me 
will  always  be  welcomed,  as  his  unusual  ability, 
learning  and  industry  will  greatly  aid  me  in  disposing 
of  any  proceedings  in  which  he  may  be  employed  " 
(5  N.  Y.  Sup.,  23). 

Mr.  Stewart  ranks  high  as  an  orator.  He  is  also 
an  author,  his  best-known  book  being  "Liberia; 
The  Americo-African  Republic,"  and  he  is  a  fre 
quent  contributor  to  literary  publications.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of 


296  Evidences  of  Progress. 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  1891  to  1895.  Served  as  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Rules  and  Regulations,  and  on 
the  Committee  on  Law,  on  Studies,  and  on  Free 
Scholarships.  While  on  the  Board,  he  succeeded  in 
removing  the  word  "  colored "  entirely  from  the 
school  system  and  was  instrumental  in  having  colored 
teachers  appointed  to  mixed  classes  of  white  and  col 
ored  children. 

ored  children.  Since  the  first  edition  of  this  book 
was  issued  Mr.  Stewart  has  given  up  his  practice 
in  New  York  and  moved  to  Honolulu,  Hawaii, 
where  he  is  meeting  with  very  great  success  in  his 
profession. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

J.  H.  LEWIS. 

IN  this  and  the  next  chapter  I  shall  call  attention 
to  a  few  prominent  business  men.     I  begin  here  with 


j.  H.  LEWIS. 


Mr.  J.  H.  Lewis,  the  second  largest  merchant  tailor 
in  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  fourth  largest 

(397) 


298  Evidences  of  Progress 

merchant  tailor  in  the  United  States.  He  is  a  remarka 
ble  man  to  say  the  least.  His  birthplace  was  at  Heaths- 
vine,  N.  C.  The  first  eighteen  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  on  a  farm.  He  went  to  Concord,  N.  H.,  in 
1875  or  '76  to  learn  the  tailoring  business.  After 
working  three  or  four  years  at  the  business  in  Con 
cord,  he  moved  to  Boston,  Mass.  He  started  in 
business  on  a  capital  of  $IOO;  by  close  attention,  he 
soon  began  to  make  money,  and  now  (1896)  his 
business  is  estimated  at  $  1 50,000  per  year.  Mr.  Lewis 
devotes  his  personal  attention  to  all  of  his  customers, 
and  to  this  fact,  as  much  as  any  other,  is  his  marvelous 
success  due.  His  store  is  at  417  Washington  street, 
Boston,  Mass. 

w.  Q.  ATWOOD. 

Mr.  W.  Q.  Atwood,  of  East  Saginaw,  Mich.,  is  one 
of  the  largest  lumber  dealers  in  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Atwood  was  born  a  slave,  but  in  spite  of  that 
fact  he  is  a  well-informed  man  in  everyway.  He  was 
born  in  Alabama,  but  left  there  for  East  Saginaw, 
Mich.,  in  1863.  He  has  been  a  successful  land,  real 
estate  and  lumber  dealer  ever  since  he  landed  in 
the  city. 

In  1863,  he  located  1600  acres  of  land  and  sold  the 
same  during  the  same  year,  clearing  $4,000.  This 
was  his  first  deal. 

In  1868,  with  thirty  men  and  eight  teams,  he  cut 
and  put  in  3,000,000  feet  of  pine  saw  logs,  and  manu 
factured  the  same  into  lumber  during  the  following 
year.  tje  continued  lumbering  each  year,  cutting 


Among  Colored  People. 


299 


from  one  to  five  million  feet,  until  1877,  and  has  made 
from  ten  to  twenty-five  dollars  per  thousand  feet. 

Mr.  Atwood  has  given  employment  to  large  bodies 
of  men.     In  all  his  business  transactions  he  has  en 


vy.  Q.  ATWOOD. 

deavored  to  use  his  own  capital,  and  has  invested  it 
very  carefully.  He  is  worth  about  $100,000.  He  is 
a  leader  in  political,  social  and  commercial  matters 
in  his  city.  He  is  the  only  colorecj  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trade. 


300  Evidences  of  Progress 

I  regard  his  career  a  worthy  example  of  what  can 
be  accomplished  by  men  of  the  race,  possessing  the 
requisite  qualities  of  patience,  enterprise  and  foresight. 

SAMUEL  HARRIS. 

I  present  here  a  picture   of  Mr.  Samuel   Harris. 


SAMUEL    HARRIS. 


The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  lives  at  Williams- 
burg,  Va.  I  had  occasion  to  visit  that  town  a  few 
years  ago,  and  when  it  became  known  to  the  white 


Among  Colored  People.  301 

people  that  I  was  interested  in  colored  people,  the 
hotel  proprietor  where  I  stopped  seemed  very  anxi 
ous  to  give  me  all  the  in  formation  he  could  regard 
ing  the  condition  of  the  race  in  that  section  of 
Virginia.  After  telling  me  all  that  he  knew,  and 
much  that  he  did  not  know,  he  said  he  wanted  to 
take  me  to  see  a  store  owned  by  a  colored  man  by 
the  name  of  Harris.  I  was  only  too  glad  to  go. 
To  see  a  large  store  owned  by  a  colored  man  was 
to  me  a  thing  of  wonderful  interest.  We  went,  and 
I  am  unable  to  put  in  words  how  much  I  was  helped 
and  inspired  by  what  I  saw  in  that  store.  I  got 
while  there  these  very  interesting  facts. 

Mr.  Harris  started  in  business  about  twenty-five 
years  ago.  His  capital  amounted  to  seventy  dollars, 
He  is  now  doing  a  business  of  $55,000  a  year;  owns 
ninety-six  building  lots  in  his  town  ;  four  large  farms 
in  the  State,  and  property  in  Richmond,  Norfolk  and 
Newport  News.  All  of  the  goods  sold  in  his  store 
are  shipped  in  his  own  vessel  that  is  manned  by  his 
own  crew. 

WILLIAM    H.    DAVIS. 

William  H.  Davis,  who  has  a  well-equipped  shoe 
store  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  deserves  special  mention  incur 
publication.  Mr.  Davis  is  a  young  man  of  about  26 
years  of  age  and  owes  his  success  entirely  to  his 
own  efforts.  He  was  at  one  time  engaged  as  private 
secretary  by  the  mayor  of  that  city.  He  afterwards 
taught  type-writing  and  short-hand  in  the  schools 
there.  .  It  might  be  well  to  mention  that  he  taught 


302 


Evidences  of  Progress 


himself  both  type-writing  and  short-hand,  as  none  of 
the  schools  there  where  those  branches  were  taught 
would  admit  colored  students.  There  are  but  very 
few  colored  men  engaged  in  the  shoe  business,  and  I 
know  of  none  who  have  as  large  a  stock  and  are  in 
every  way  as  well  prepared  to  suit  all  kinds  of  trade 
as  Mr.  Davis.  He  has  in  connection  with  his  stock 
of  boots  and  shoes  a  fine  line  of  furnishing  goods, 


WILLIAM    H.    DAVIS. 


also  employs  a  first-class  workman,  so  that  he  can 
take  orders  for  fine  hand-made  shoes  for  men  and 
women.  I  hope  that  this  short  sketch  and  picture  of 
Mr.  Davis  may  inspire  other  young  men  to  start  in 
some  business  enterprise.  The  sooner  colored  men 
begin  to  represent  some  of  the  business  interests  of 
this  country  the  better  for  the  race.  There  .is  not  a 
city  in  the  country  where  the  colored  population  is 


Among  Colored  People.  303 

large  that  several  business  enterprises  could  not  be 
started  by  colored  men  with  success.  Every  store 
owned  and  controlled  by  a  colored  man  with  success 
not  only  helps  him,  but  it  in  a  way  lifts  up  the  entire 
race,  and  shows  that  colored  men  can  do  other  things 
besides  clean  houses  and  drive  coal-carts.  Mr.  Davis 
finds  to  his  surprise  that  he  has  a  fair  trade  among 
the  white  people ;  that  fact  alone  should  encourage 
other  young  men  to  make  an  effort  to  go  into  some 
business.  As  long  as  colored  men  own  no  stores, 
they  have  no  right  to  complain  of  their  treatment  in 
stores  owned  by  white  people.  When  colored  men 
are  felt  as  competitors  in  business,  then,  and  not  until 
then,  will  white  men  see  the  need  of  making  any 
special  effort  to  secure  and  hold  colored  people's 
trade.  Then,  too,  when  members  of  the  race  own 
large  stores,  they  can  give  employment  to  young 
women  as  clerks,  and  by  so  doing  take  a  large  num 
ber  of  colored  girls  out  of  wash-tubs  and  cook 
kitchens.  Mr.  Davis  says  that  he  has  not  had  the 
support  he  had  hoped  for  from  the  better  class  of 
colored  people,  such  as  the  teachers  and  other  pro 
fessional  people.  But  he  feels  that  that  will  come 
in  time.  In  closing  this  sketch  I  regret  to  say  that 
Louisville  has  for  a  city  with  such  a  large  colored 
population  a  very  small  number  of  colored  men  en 
gaged  in  any  kind  of  business.  In  fact,  the  whole 
State  of  Kentucky  is  behind  in  that  respect.  I  have 
found  but  very  few  towns  in  the  State  that  had  col 
ored  men  doing  any  kind  of  business.  Mr.  Davis 
desires  that  any  young  men  who  want  to  go  into 


304  Evidences  of  Progress 

business,  and  feel  that  they  would  like  some  advice 
and  information  as  how  to  start,  should  write  to  him, 
and  he  will  gladly  help  them  in  the  way  of  giving 
them  an  account  of  how  he  started  and  his  methods 
of  carrying  on  his  business.  I  have  often  thought 
that  in  towns  where  no  one  colored  man  felt  able  to 
start  some  business  enterprise  alone  several  men 
could  put  their  means  together  and  start  a  co 
operative  store,  and  in  that  way  encourage  a 
business  effort  among  the  people,  and  at  the  same 
time  furnish  employment  for  members  of  the 
race. 

J.    E.    REED. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Reed  was  born  of  free  parents  in  North 
Carolina,  and  knew  nothing  of  slavery.  He  came  to 
New  Bedford,  Mass.,  in  1878,  where  he  attended 
school  for  two  years ;  at  the  end  of  that  time,  in 
1880,  he  secured  employment  as  errand  boy  in 
Mr.  G.  F.  Parlow's  photograph  galleries  of  that 
city.  Mr.  Parlow  found  that  the  young  man  pos 
sessed  very  excellent  qualities  of  mind,  and  as  an 
evidence  of  his  appreciation,  asked  him  if  he  would 
like  to  learn  photography.  I  need  not  add  that  Mr. 
Reed  was  only  too  glad  to  accept  the  offer.  After 
mastering  the  profession  he  worked  as  an  assistant  to 
Mr.  Parlow  until  1888,  when  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  P.  C.  Headly,  a  young  white  man.  The  two 
young  men  bought  out  the  gallery  where  Mr.  Reed 
had  learned  his  profession.  This  firm  of  Headly  & 
Reed  continued  in  business  until  1895,  when  Mr 


Among  Colored  People. 


301 


Reed  bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr.  Headly.  These 
young  men  were  regarded  as  by  far  the  best  work 
men  in  their  line  the  city  afforded.  Their  patrons 
were  numbered  among  the  very  best  people  in  New 


J.    E.    REED. 

Bedford.  To  me,  the  most  interesting  phase  of  Mr. 
Reed's  work  was  his  partnership  with  Mr.  Headly, 
for  I  have  always  felt  that  one  of  the  very  best  things 
that  could  be  done,  in  solving  what  is  called  in  this 
country  the  "  Race  question,"  would  be  to  bring  white 

20 


306  Evidences  of  Progress 

and  colored  men  together  in  a  business  way,  where 
they  will  have  an  opportunity  to  study  each  other 
as  only  those  whose  financial  interests  are  blended 
can.  I  have  no  doubt  but  many  comments,  and 
doubtless  unpleasant  ones  too,  were  made  about  the 
co-partnership  of  a  white  and  colored  man.  But  the 
fact  that  they  succeeded,  and  won  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  the  best  people  in  New  Bedford,  makes 
me  hope  we  may  hear  of  more  such  firms,  in  other 
parts  of  the  country,  for  I  am  sure  that  it  will  prove 
helpful  to  both  races  to  be  brought  more  together 
in  a  business  way.  I  can  speak  for  Mr.  Reed's 
ability  as  an  artist,  having  had  work  done  in  his  gal 
lery.  I  am  also  pleased  to  note  that  Mr.  Reed  is 
a  very  useful  and  energetic  church  and  Sunday- 
school  worker. 

JOHN    S.    TROWER. 

John  S.  Trower,  as  a  successful  business  man, 
ranks  among  the  leading  men  of  this  country. 
He  was  born  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  When  a 
young  man,  in  1870,  he  moved  to  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
He  found  employment  in  various  lines  of  work,  until 
ambition  led  him  to  commence  an  enterprise  of  his 
own.  He  started  and  conducted  for  fifteen  years 
on  Chelten  avenue  a  catering  business.  By  much 
economy  and  a  strict  adherence  to  his  work,  he 
soon  found  his  project  assuming  much  larger  pro 
portions  than  he  had  ever  hoped  for,  and  in  1887 
he  purchased  the  old  Germantown  Savings  Bank 
for  $25,000.  This  building  has  been  put  in  good 
shape,  with  all  the  modern  improvements,  with 


Among  Colored  People. 


30.7 


telephone,  and  all  that  goes  to  make  up  a  first-class 
business  house.  His  business  office  is  presided  over 
by  three  competent  clerks,  all  of  whom  are  colored. 


JOHN    S.    TROWER. 


On  the  second  floor  he  has  a  magnificent  parlor  with 
every  evidence  of  culture  and  comfort.  Mr.  Trower 
has  won  high  distinction  in  his  business. 


3O&  Evidences  of  Progress 

C.  H.  SMILEY. 

I  know  of  but  few  others  who  are  doing  what 
might  be  regarded  as  a  very  large  business  in  that 
line;  one  is  Mr.  C.  H.  Smiley,  of  Chicago.  He  went 
there  some  years  ago  from  Philadelphia  and  started 
out  in  1880  as  a  waiter.  His  first  experience  as  a 
caterer  was  in  a  very  small  way.  But  his  success 
has  been  something  phenomenal.  I  had  the  pleasure, 
while  in  Chicago  attending  the  World's  Fair  in  1893, 
of  going  through  his  establishment. 

At  that  time  he  was  giving  employment  to  twenty 
people  and  owned  the  building  in  which  he  carried 
on  his  enterprise.  In  fact  he  was  then  getting  ready 
to  build  a  larger  building  more  suited  to  his  pur 
pose.  His  patrons  were  only  among  the  very  best 
people,  and  he  thought  nothing  of  serving  banquets 
or  weddings,  when  his  bill  alone  would  run  as  high 
as  one  or  more  thousand  dollars.  I  found  him  a 
most  generous  man.  On  one  occasion  I  went  to  him, 
asking  aid  for  a  department  of  church  and  educa 
tional  work  I  had  been  commissioned  to  raise  funds 
for.  I  had  hardly  stated  my  case,  when  he  handed 
me  a  $100  bill.  I  am  told  that  he  has  given  many 
such  sifts  to  churches  and  other  Christian  societies. 

o 

Many  who  have  attended  my  illustrated  lectures  will 
remember  a  picture  of  Mr.  Smiley.  I  regret  that  I 
am  unable  to  produce  it  in  this  book. 

E.    I.    MASTERSON. 

Mr.  E.  I.  Masterson  is  a  successful  merchant-tailor 
in  Louisville,  Ky.  We  present  his  cut  and  a  few 


Among  Colored  People. 


309 


words  about  him,  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  be 
cause  he  is  a  graduate  from  the  tailoring  department 
of  Booker  T.  Washington's  great  school  at  Tuskegee, 
Ala.  It  has  been  said  by  those  who  are  not  friendly 
to  the  Industrial  Schools  that  we  never  "  see  any  of 


I 


E.    I.    MASTERSON. 

the  industrial  graduates  putting  any  of  their  indus 
trial  education  into  practice."  Then,  again,  it 
has  been  said  that  the  "  industrial  training  given 
in  these  schools  is  never  thorough  enough  to  be  of 
any  practical  benefit  to  the  students,"  So  as  an 


310  Evidences  of  Progress 

offset  to  these  objections,  we  are  glad  to  introduce 
Mr.  Masterson  as  a  successful  tailor.  Not  that  he  is 
the  only  one  engaged  in  business  as  a  result  of  an 
education  received  at  a  trade  school.  In  fact,  we 
know  of  some  printers,  blacksmiths,  harness-makers, 
and  others  who  learned  their  trades  at  the  different 
Industrial  Schools.  Mr.  Masterson  is  patronized  by 
both  white  and  colored  people,  and  having  had 
clothing  made  by  him  I  can  recommend  his  work 
manship  as  first  class. 

CHARLES  A.  WEBB. 

I  shall  give  in  this  sketch  what  I  consider  a  very 
interesting  history.  The  latter  months  of  1876  saw 
the  dawn  of  a  business  career  which  was  destined 
to  spread  itself  like  the  mighty  Mississippi,  though 
small  in  its  incipiency  ;  having  been  retarded  by  many 
obstructions, which  were  gradually  removed,  it  worked 
its  way  through  valleys  and  plains,  finally  broaden 
ing  and  deepening  itself  as  it  went ;  having  gathered 
volume  and  velocity,  it  is  no  longer  mindful  of  such 
small  obstructions  as  hindered  its  course  in  the  be 
ginning. 

Such  has  been  the  business  career  of  C.  A.  Webb, 
whose  cut  adorns  page  311,  and  who  is  the  president 
of  the  Webb-Jameson  Co. 

Like  many  others,  he  saw  the  light  of  freedom 
without  money,  education  or  friends,  but  being 
possessed  of  courage  and  a  determination  that  always 
succeeds,  having  worked  a  few  years  as  a  laborer 


Among  Colored  People. 


311 


and  in  a  few  other  minor  capacities,  he  decided  to 
venture  for  himself. 

His  first  venture  was  teaming  and   making  gravel 
streets   and   alleys.     After  a  time,  a  new  field  was 


CHARLES  A.  WEBB. 


opened,  and  he  began  buying  and  selling  wood  in  car 
lots  to  the  large  pork-packers  for  smoking  purposes. 
Being  successful  thus  far,  he  established  a  coal  and 
wood  yard  to  supply  small  consumers.  Little  by 
little  the  business  grew,  and  in  those  days  when  the 


312 


Evidences  of  Progress 


winters  were  more  severe  in  Indianapolis  than  they 
are  now,  and  natural  gas  was  unknown,  the  coal  and 
wood  business  was  a  busy  one.  So  much  so,  that 
after  the  business  was  run  a  few  years,  and  the  bor 
ders  of  trade  extended,  it  became  necessary,  in  order 
to  supply  the  demand  promptly,  to  employ  a  steam- 
splitter  and  saw,  instead  of  men  who  usually  per- 


MOVING  A   HOUSE. 

formed  this  work,  and  two  to  four  teams,  instead  of 
one.  The  business  up  to  this  time  had  increased 
from  $500  to  $5,OOO  per  year. 

Still  broadening  itself,  heavy  draught  and  lumber- 
hauling  were  added,  which  required  more  teams  and 
men  to  do  the  work,  until  now  this  branch  of  the 
business,  which  belongs  to  Mr.  Webb  individually, 
amounts  to  $10,000  per  year. 

All  radical  changes  in  the  life  of  a  city  bring  about 
changes  in  established  business,  and  cause  new  ven 
tures  to  spring  up.  In  1887,  natural  gas  having  been 


Among  Colored  People.  313 

discovered  near  Indianapolis,  all  was  excitement. 
The  general  topic  in  the  papers  and  at  the  fireside 
was  cheap  fuel,  which  of  course  meant  death  or  a 
meagre  existence  to  the  coal  and  wood  dealers. 

Whenever  natural  gas  was  mentioned  the  brow  of 
the  coal  and  wood  dealers  became  clouded,  but  this 
could  not  remove  the  difficulty. 

About  this  time  J.  W.  Davis  &  Co.,  one  of  the 
oldest  house  and  safe  moving  firms  in  the  city,  desired 
to  retire  from  business,  and  here  the  light  began  to 
shine. 

The  opportunity  was  presented  and  accepted  to 
purchase  the  outfit  of  tools  and  appliances  com 
monly  used  in  that  branch  of  business. 

The  outfit  as  stated  together  with  the  good  will 
and  name  of  the  firm  were  purchased  for  $1,000. 
The  company  at  that  time  consisted  of  C.  A.  Webb, 
Walter  Jameson  and  Samuel  Smith.  The  firm  as 
such  did  not  have  a  dollar  to  start  with.  Mr.  Webb, 
who  had  been  long  in  business,  and  had  broad 
acquaintance,  assumed  the  debt  and  according  to  con 
tract,  within  eighteen  months  after  the  firm  began 
under  the  name  of  Webb,  Jameson  &  Co.,  they  were 
able  to  settle  the  debt  besides  living  off  the  net 
earnings  of  the  business  at  the  same  time. 

Messrs.  Jameson  and  Smith  were  practical  movers, 
having  worked  at  the  business  for  the  same  firm 
whom  they  united  in  buying  out.  Mr.  Jameson  hav 
ing  been  employed  in  the  capacity  of  foreman. 

In  the  organization  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Wrebb  had 
charge  of  all  financial  matters  and  the  making  of 


314  Evidences  of  Progress 

contracts ;  Mr.  Jameson  general  superintendent  of 
the  work  and  Mr.  Smith  assistant. 

The  firm  proceeded  in  this  way,  declaring  weekly 
dividends  from  May  28,  1889,  the  time  of  its  organiza 
tion,  until  May  I,  1892. 

The  business  increased  so  from  the  start  that  it 
was  considered  unnecessary  to  use  the  name  of  the 
old  firm  in  operating  the  business. 

By  judicious  advertising  and  skilful  management, 
the  firm  under  the  name  of  Webb,  Jameson  &  Co.  be 
came  well  known  at  home  and  throughout  the  State. 

The  reputation  of  the  firm  having  been  established 
for  their  reliability,  honesty  and  responsibility,  always 
fulfilling  their  contracts  to  the  letter,  was  often  able  to 
secure  better  prices  than  other  contractors. 

The  business  having  increased  to  such  an  extent 
during  the  first  three  years,  it  was  decided  to  increase 
the  capital  stock  and  incorporate  the  company. 
Accordingly  the  corporation  was  formed  May  I,  1892, 
under  the  name  of  The  Webb-Jameson  Co.  The 
capital  stock  was  $3,000,  fully  paid.  The  stockholders 
consisted  of  C.  A.  Webb,  Walter  Jameson,  Samuel 
Smith  and  Mrs.  Ida  M.  Bryant.  At  the  first  meeting 
of  the  stockholders,  officers  were  elected  as  follows  : 
C.  A.  Webb,  President ;  Walter  Jameson,  Vice-Presi 
dent  ;  Samuel  Smith,  Superintendent,  and  Mrs.  I.  M. 
Bryant,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  with  the  same 
officers  as  directors.  The  business  has  gone  on 
adjusting  itself  to  the  conditions  of  the  times,  but 
never  losing  ground,  not  even  in  the  trying  times  of 
1893-4,  from  which  the  country  has  apt  even  yet 
fully  recovered. 


Among  Colored  People.  315 

Notwithstanding  the  increased  competition  which 
each  year  brings  forth,  The  Webb-Jameson  Company 
maintains  their  position  in  the  lead.  The  entire 
business  operated  under  the  management  of  C.  A. 
Webb  amounts  to  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  thou 
sand  dollars  per  year.  This  volume  of  business 
necessitates  the  employing  of  twenty-five  to  thirty 
clerks  and  workmen,  and  six  teams  to  prosecute  the 
work,  and  during  the  busy  season  more  are  required. 

The  expenses  of  the  company  in  wages,  the 
purchase  of  new  and  improved  tools,  repairs,  taxes, 
advertising  and  insurance,  amount  to  several  thou 
sand  dollars  per  year — all  of  which  goes  to  show 
that  they  are  doing  business  according  to  the  meth 
ods  approved  by  the  best  and  most  conservative 
business  men  of  the  opposite  race.  Much  more 
might  be  said  of  the  business  of  The  Webb-Jameson 
Company,  but  be  it  said  to  their  credit  that  many 
who  seek  business  relations  with  them  are  sur 
prised  to  meet  colored  men.  So  great  is  their 
surprise,  they  often  make  the  ludicrous  statement, 
"  I  thought  Mr.  Webb  was  a  white  man,"  and  fre 
quently  add,  "  Well,  who  is  Mr.  Jameson  ?  "  thereby 
showing  that  the  general  idea,  without  positive 
knowledge,  is  that  The  Webb-Jameson  Company  is 
conducted  by  white  instead  of  colored  men. 

Besides  the  business  already  mentioned,  Mr.  Webb 
is  president  of  a  building  and  loan  association,  con 
ducted  entirely  by  colored  men  and  patronized  en 
tirely  by  the  colored  people.  This  enterprise  thus 
far  has  been  very  successful. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

WALTER    P.    HALL. 

I  MET  Mr.  Walter  P.  Hall  for  the  first  time  in  1892, 
when  giving  my  first  course  of  Illustrated  Lectures 
on  "  Race  Progress  "  in  Philadelphia. 

It  seems  that  our  subject  never  spent  more  than 
one  year  in  school,  on  account  of  his  father's  death. 
.He  had  to  help  support  his  mother,  and  other  mem 
bers  of  the  family.  From  the  age  of  seven  years  to 
sixteen  he  worked  very  hard,  and  was  his  mother's 
main  support.  When  he  had  arrived  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  our  country  was  then  engaged  in  the  great 
civil  war.  Mr.  Hall's  love  for  his  race,  his  patriotism 
and  love  for  our  country  prompted  him  to  enlist  as  a 
soldier  in  the  24th  United  States  Regiment.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  secured  work  and  assumed  the  responsibility  of 
supporting  his  mother,  sister  and  younger  brother. 
In  1871  he  was  employed  by  Mr.  Oscar  Robbins  in 
the  old  Fifth  Street  Market.  His  employer  was  the 
the  largest  poultry  and  game  dealer  in  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  Hall  held  his  position  for  over  ten  years.  In 
a  short  while  after  leaving  Mr.  Robbins,  he  started 
in  business  for  himself.  Having  but  little  money, 
and  a  great  deal  of  opposition  to  contend  with,  it  was 
for  a  while  an  awful  struggle,  so  much  so,  that  he 
frankly  admits,  that  had  it  not  been  for  his  noble  and 


Among  Colored  People. 

loving  wife  he  would  on  several  occasions  have  given 
up.  True  merit  will  always  win  in  the  end,  and  this 
proved  true  in  his  case  ;  for  to-day,  Mr.  Hall  has  one 
of  the  largest  wholesale  and  retail  poultry  and  game 


WALTER  P.  HALL,  PHILADELPHIA. 

stalls  in  the  I2th  Street  Market  He  employs  four 
men,  paying  each  of  them  the  same  salary  he  received 
when  on  a  salary  himself. 

One  need  only  see  how  well  his  home  is  managed 
and  kept,  to  fully  realize  that  it  is  a  happy  home.    You 


3 1  &  Evidences  of  Progress 

also  behold  the  power  and  usefulness  of  a  true 
and  loving  wife.  In  addition  to  his  regular  business 
he  finds  time  to  do  great  good  in  church-work  as  a 
class  leader.  He  has  filled  that  position  for  seventeen 
years,  and  has  been  a  trustee  for  fifteen  years,  and  a  Sun 
day-school  teacher  for  five  years,  having  a  large  class 
of  young  men  in  whom  he  feels  great  interest  His 
class  he  had  to  give  up  on  account  of  being  elected 
as  Sunday-school  Superintendent.  Then  to  add  to 
his  church-work  he  has  been  made  president  of  the 
Southeast  Branch  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  For  seven 
years  Mr.  Hall  has  been  the  president  of  the  Pioneer 
Building  and  Loan  Association  of  Philadelphia,  which 
stands  second  to  none  of  its  kind  in  the  country. 
Many  poor  people  have  this  association  to  thank  for 
the  homes  they  live  in  to-day. 

I  think  our  readers  need  not  be  told  that  Mr.  Hall 
is  a  busy  man.  Rev.  John  M.  Palmer,  his  pastor, 
says,  "  Few  men  so  prosperous  in  business,  so  com 
fortable  in  possession  of  this  world's  goods,  show 
such  ardent  devotion  for  church-work  and  active  par 
ticipation  in  all  its  varied  forms,  as  does  Mr.  Walter 
Hall,  at  the  same  time  meeting  the  requirements  of 
the  several  positions  which  he  holds.  As  class  leader, 
trustee,  steward,  and  Sunday-school  superintendent, 
he  is  always  on  hand.  Among  the  members  of  his 
class  none  are  so  poor  but  that  he  will  hunt  them  up 
when  sick,  to  offer  with  them  a  word  of  prayer,  and 
very  often  giving  them  financial  aid.  One  old  member 
said,  before  passing  away,  'How  he  has  helped  me! 
God  will  bless  him!"' 


Among  Colored  People. 


S.    L.    PARKER. 


319 


Mr.  S.  L.  Parker,  whose  picture  I  give  here,  be 
longs  to  that  class  of  men  who  are  able  to  not  only 
do  what  they  have  seen  others  do,  but  able  to  create 


S.    L.    PARKER,    LAUREL,    DEL. 

something  out  of  almost  nothing.  Mr.  Parker,  when 
a  mere  boy,  began  business  for  himself  in  the  town 
of  Laurel,  Delaware,  in  the  month  of  May,  1885, 
with  a  stock  of  $19.50  worth  of  goods,  bought  on 
credit  of  a  friend.  At  that  time  for  a  colored  man  to 


320  Evidences  of  Progress 

attempt  to  sell  anything  in  Laurel,  except  ginger 
bread  on  the  street  corners,  or  fish  on  the  street,  was 
looked  upon  with  no  little  curiosity,  for,  while  Dela 
ware  is  practically  a  Northern  State,  I  was  surprised 
to  see  what  a  great  amount  of  race  prejudice  existed 
in  it.  At  first,  Mr.  Parker  was  regarded  as  a  lazy 
fellow,  trying  to  get  his  living  without  hard  work. 
But  we  are  glad  to  note  that  he  was  fairly  well  pat 
ronized  from  the  beginning  of  his  business  career. 
On  account  of  his  lack  of  business  knowledge  he 
met  with  several  reverses  during  his  first  three  years' 
experience ;  but,  by  constant  efforts  on  his  part,  he 
gradually  gained  a  footing  that  is  regarded  by  even 
his  opposers  as  firm  and  secure.  So  great  has  been 
his  progress  that  last  year  his  business  amounted  to 
over  $io,OOO.  He  now  conducts  a  general  grocery 
store,  manufactures  ice  cream  for  both  wholesale  and 
retail,  having  over  $1,300  worth  of  machinery  for  that 
use.  He  has  two  ice  cream  parlors,  which  are  well 
patronized  by  the  very  best  people  in  the  town,  with 
out  any  discrimination  whatever.  He  also  handles 
the  ice  business  of  the  place,  running  two  delivery 
wagons.  He  has  packed  this  year  1,000  tons  of  ice 
for  his  next  season's  trade.  In  addition  to  his  busi 
ness  already  mentioned,  Mr.  Parker,  during  the  sea 
son,  ships  large  amounts  of  fruit  and  produce.  I  am 
glad  to  add  to  what  has  been  said  of  our  subject.  I 
found,  while  in  the  town,  that  he  had  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  very  best  people. 


Among"  Colored  People.  321 


H.   A.   TANDY. 

H.  A.  Tandy  is  a  successful  contractor  and  builder 
of  brick  buildings.  Some  of  the  largest  brick  struc 
tures  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  where  he  resides,  have  been 
built  by  him.  Mr.  Tandy  has  a  partner  whose  name 
is  Bird.  These  very  successful  contractors  have  in 
addition  to  many  other  large  buildings  been  awarded 
the  brick-work  on  the  new  court  house  that  is  now 
in  progress  of  building  in  the  fall  of  1898.  The 
court  house  is  to  be  one  of  the  finest  and  largest  in 
the  United  States.  Several  million  bricks  will  be 
used  to  complete  their  part  of  the  work.  There 
were  many  other  bids  put  in  for  this  work  by  con 
tractors  from  all  over  the  State,  and  some  from  other 
States.  The  fact  that  the  firm  of  Tandy  &  Bird 
got  the  contract  shows  in  what  high  esteem  they  are 
held  by  the  public  in  a  business  way.  In  order  that 
my  readers  may  fully  appreciate  the  importance  of 
Mr.  Tandy's  work  there  are  a  few  things  that  must 
be  considered.  First,  one  must  take  into  account  the 
extreme  and  uncalled-for  prejudice  against  the  col 
ored  man  in  a  business  way,  both  North  and  South. 
Then  all  of  the  labor  unions  have  refused  to  admit 
colored  members.  That  in  itself  would  have  much 
to  do  in  discouraging  any  colored  man  to  try  to  com 
plete  with  white  men  as  contractors  and  builders. 
Then,  too,  a  colored  man  would  find  it  harder  to 
secure  skilled  mechanics  to  help  him  complete  the 
work  after  he  had  obtained  the  contract.  But  all  of 

21 


322  Evidences  of  Progress 

the  things  referred  to  that  would  hinder  a  colored 
man  has  been  overcome  by  Mr.  Tandy.  He  is  a 
first-class  workman  in  his  line,  and  by  doing  business 
in  a  straightforward  manner  he  has  made  men  recog 
nize  his  true  worth  as  a  man,  regardless  of  color. 


H.    A.   TANDY. 


Mr.  Tandy  has  made  himself  both  helpful  and 
useful  to  his  race,  not  only  by  giving  employment  to 
many  of  them,  but  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
church  and  Sunday-school  work  in  the  A.  M.  E. 


Among  Colored  People.  323 

Church.  He  has  also  been  active  in  the  Masonic 
Order,  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as  State  Grand 
Master  of  the  Order  known  as  U.  B.  F.  and  S.  M.  T. 
Mr.  Tandy  is  also  connected  with  the  Colored  Fair 
Association  of  Lexington,  which  is  the  largest  thing 
of  its  kind  in  the  world  carried  on  by  colored  people. 

DANIEL   PURDY. 

Mr.  Daniel  Purdy,  of  Chester,  Pa.,  is  another  of 
the  men  I  regard  as  being  worthy  of  special  mention. 
He  was  born  a  slave,  left  Virginia  when  a  small 
boy  in  1864,  was  brought  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
was  bound  out  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age, 
with  the  understanding  that  he  was  to  have  three 
months  of  schooling  each  year,  and  when  he  arrived 
at  his  eighteenth  year,  was  to  have  $100.  But  none 
of  these  conditions  were  fulfilled  by  those  who  had 
taken  the  boy  to  raise.  So  that  at  eighteen  he  found 
himself  without  education  and  without  money. 
From  the  time  Mr.  Purdy  was  eighteen  years  of  age 
until  he  was  twenty,  he  worked  at  whatever  he  could 
find  in  the  State  of  Maryland.  He  then  came  to 
Chester,  his  present  home.  His  first  wages  in 
Chester  were  about  $1.00  per  day,  but  by  close  ap 
plication  to  his  work,  he  so  gained  the  confidence  of 
his  employers  that  they  advanced  his  salary  from  time 
to  time  until  he  received  $18  per  week,  which  was 
regarded  as  very  large  pay  for  a  colored  man.  In 
1886,  Mr.  Purdy,  after  working  in  the  iron  mills  for 
several  years,  had  saved  quite  a  sum  of  money,  and 
decided  to  go  into  business  for  himself.  He  has 


324 


Evidences  of  Progress 


built  up  a  large  grocery  trade  and  owns  the  building 
in  which  his  store  is  situated,  also  his  residence.  It 
is  a  fine  brick  structure  on  the  corner  of  two  promi 
nent  streets.  In  addition  to  his  grocery  store  he 


DANIEL    PURDY,  CHESTER,    PA. 

does  a  general  contracting  business,  employing  dur 
ing  the  summer  months  about  twenty-five  men,  owns 
six  horses,  and  keeps  two  clerks  employed  in  the 
store.  He  tells  me  that  the  principal  part  of  his 
trade  is  among  the  white  people.  I  did  not  press 


Among  Colored  People.  325 

him  as  to  what  he  is  really  worth,  but  he  said  I  could 
safely  say  $15,000,  and  that  he  does  a  business  of 
from  $2O,OOO  to  $25,000  per  year.  Who  will  say 
that  Mr.  Purdy  should  not  be  classed  among  the 
successful  business  men,  both  white  and  colored,  and 
especially  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  fact 
that  all  of  his  success  has  been  accomplished  with 
out  education  or  business  experience.  I  only  wish 
some  of  our  white  college  graduates  would  do  as 
well. 

DR.    W.    T.    DINWIDDIE. 

Dr.  W.  T.  Dinwiddie,  a  young  man  who  is  en 
gaged  in  the  practice  of  dentistry  at  Lexington,  Ky., 
is  a  credit  to  the  race.  He  is  a  native  of  Danville, 
Ky.,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  that 
city,  afterwards  taking  a  two  years'  course  in  the 
Knoxville  College  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Dr.  Dinwid 
die  first  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  was  re 
garded  as  a  very  fine  workman  ;  but,  having  a  natu 
ral  desire  to  practice  dentistry,  he  decided  to  enter 
Meharry  Medical  and  Dental  College  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  fit  himself  for  the  practice  of  that  profes 
sion.  After  a  three  years'  course  he  graduated  with 
high  honors,  and  was  called  by  the  President  and 
Faculty  of  Meharry  Dental  College  to  accept  a  pro 
fessorship  ;  and  he  took  the  chair  of  Prosthetic  Den 
tistry,  which  position  he  held  with  both  success  and 
honor,  until  he  resigned  to  enter  into  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  where  he  has  by 
his  most  excellent  workmanship  and  genial  manners 
built  up  a  very  large  practice. 


Evidences  of  Progress 


DR.    W.    T.    DINW1DDIE. 


JAMES    E.    DIXON. 

Mr.  James  E.  Dixon,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  belongs 
to  that  class  of  men  who  are  helpful  to  my  book  in 
enabling  me  to  demonstrate  that  the  colored  people 
are  entering  all  the  professions  and  business  walks  of 
life  in  which  white  men  enter  and  succeed. 

Mr.  Dixon  went  to  the  North  from  Richmond,  Va. 


Among  Colored  People.  327 

Having  lost  both  his  parents  at  a  very  early  age,  it 
left  him  to  look  after  himself,  just  at  the  time  when 
a  loving  mother  is  most  needed.  What  he  has  in 
the  way  of  an  education  was  obtained  at  New  Bed- 


j.  E.  DIXON. 

ford,  Mass.  But  having  a  desire  to  travel,  he  ac 
cepted  an  offer  to  go  to  sea,  which  vocation  he  fol 
lowed  for  a  number  of  years,  rounding  the  globe  at 
least  seven  times,  visiting  one  or  more  parts  of  every 
continent,  inclusive  of  Australia,  New  Zealand  and 


328  Evidences  of  Progress 

a  number  of  Islands  in  both  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic 
Oceans.  Finding  it  to  his  advantage,  he  hailed  from 
an  English  port,  and  stuck  to  the  English  Merchant 
Service.  He  secured  a  mate's  certificate,  and  worked 
himself  up  to  a  position  as  chief  officer  of  one  of  the 
finest  sailing  ships  under  the  English  flag.  But  by 
an  unfortunate  accident  in  Calcutta,  July  4,  1884, 
he  lost  his  right  arm.  He  then  returned  to  New 
Bedford,  Mass.,  and  after  a  hard  struggle  against 
big  odds,  mastered  telegraphy.  The  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Co.,  in  recognition  of  his  services  in 
their  main  office,  appointed  him  on  June  1 1,  1889, 
as  manager  of  their  branch  office  at  the  Parker 
House,  New  Bedford,  which  place  he  held  until  he 
resigned  June  3,  1893,  to  take  charge  of  his  present 
position  at  Signal  Tower  on  the  main  line  of  the  New 
York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Rail  Road,  at  Prov 
idence,  R.  I.  Some  idea  of  his  work  and  responsi 
bilities  is  given  in  this  statement.  In  1894,  34,284 
trains  passed  this  point,  and  the  number  is  never 
under  this.  The  operator  has  to  know  and  report 
the  exact  condition  of  every  train.  In  addition  he 
has  to  give  a  signal  to  each  train  whether  or  not  it  is 
all  right  to  go  ahead.  The  position  held  by  Mr. 
Dixon  is  indeed  one  of  great  responsibility,  and 
should  he  fail  to  discharge  his  whole  duty  in  giving 
each  train  the  proper  signal,  great  loss  of  life  and 
property  would  result.  So  well  has  the  company 
been  pleased  with  his  work,  that  they  offer  employ 
ment  to  other  members  of  the  race  when  they  can 
show  that  they  are  properly  fitted  for  duty. 


Among  Colored  People.  329 

PHILIP    J.    ALLSTON. 

Mr.  Philip  J.  Allston,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  is  holding 
what  I  consider  a  very  unique  position.  After  leav 
ing  the  public  school  of  Boston  he  accepted  a 
position  in  the  firm  of  Weeks  &  Potter,  wholesale 
and  retail  druggists  and  chemists  of  that  city.  He 
was  first  employed  as  a  bottle  washer  in  1878,  but 
had  not  been  in  the  establishment  very  long  when 
he  had  learned  the  business  of  manufacturing  the 
famous  articles  sold  by  that  firm. 

Mr.  Warren  B.  Potter,  of  the  firm,  took  great  in 
terest  in  Mr.  Allston,  and  when  a  vacancy  occurred 
in  the  laboratory  he  asked  him  if  he  would  like  to 
enter  the  laboratory.  He  said  he  would.  After  a 
year  the  chemist  went  on  a  vacation,  leaving  Mr. 
Allston  in  full  charge  of  the  laboratory.  Mr.  Potter 
being  impressed  with  his  work,  asked  him  if  he 
could  take  charge  of  the  new  laboratory  erected  at 
135  and  137  Columbus  avenue.  He  said  :  "  Give  me  a 
trial."  In  1882  he  took  charge  of  the  laboratory  with 
one  man  assistant.  During  this  time  he  attended  the 
Star  School  for  drawing,  and  the  English  Evening 
High  School,  receiving  instructions  in  the  advanced 
branches.  In  1889  Mr.  Potter  allowed  him  to  take  a 
course  in  Analytical,  General  and  Qualitative  Chem 
istry,  as  well  as  Practical  Pharmacy,  which  he  fol 
lowed  until  Mr.  Potter's  death,  in  1892.  The  labora 
tory  is,  without  dispute,  the  finest  in  New  England, 
($10,000)  ten  thousand  dollars  being  laid  out  in  the 
summer  of  1895  for  repairs.  Many  appliances  and 


330 


Evidences  of  Progress 


improvements  at  Mr.  Allston's  suggestion  has  been 
added,  and  many  new  devices  for  facilitating  the 
work.  He  has  now  five  men  under  him,  all  mem 
bers  of  his  race,  and  all  receiving  twice  the  amount 


PHILIP  J.    ALLSTON. 

in  wages  he  received  when  he  began  work  for  the 
company.  He  is  well  known  among  the  pharmacists 
of  Boston.  In  1895,  a  personal  letter  from  Prof. 
Capen,  of  Tufts  College,  presented  him  to  every 
druggist  in  the  city,  he  being  a  member  of  the  corn- 


Among  Colored  People.  331 

mittee  on  finance  which  raised  over  ($23,000)  twenty- 
three  thousand  dollars  for  the  Christian  Endeavor- 
fund. 

In  1892  he  married  Miss  Maggie  A.  Whiting, 
formerly  of  Virginia. 

He  has  always  been  an  active  member  of  the  A. 
M.  E.  Zion  Church,  having  held  the  following  posi 
tions :  Teacher  in  the  Sunday  school ;  president  of 
Clinton  Literary  Association;  conductor  of  choir; 
assistant  superintendent ;  superintendent,  and  now  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Suffolk  Investment  Association,  secretary  of 
the  Wendell  Phillips  Club  and  secretary  of  the 
Crispus  Attucks  Club. 

He  has  had  many  offers  to  fill  other  laboratories, 
but  declined  them,  as  well  as  inducements  to  fill 
positions  in  the  South. 

DR.  JARED    CAREY. 

Dr.  Jared  Carey,  Chiropodist  and  Manicure,  is  a 
very  interesting  character.  My  attention  was  called 
to  him  while  lecturing  in  Cincinnati.  He  is  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  but  left  his  native  State  before  the 
war,  coming  to  Ohio  with  some  Quakers  and  free 
colored  people.  In  his  early  life  he  worked  on  a 
farm  and  engaged  in  all  kinds  of  hard  work,  and 
many  a  month  got  as  pay  only  $6.00,  which  in  those 
days  was  considered  large  wages  for  a  farm  hand. 

Dr.  Carey  had  a  great  desire  to  travel  and  took  up 
the  profession  of  Chiropody  in  order  that  he  might 
better  his  own  condition  and  in  his  profession  visit 


332 


Evidences  of  Progress 


some  of  the  larger  cities,  which  he  did  in  both  the 
United  States  and  Canada.  I  do  not  find  many  col 
ored  men  engaged  as  Chiropodists,  and  none  that  I 
have  met  are  as  well  prepared  to  do  the  work  as  Dr. 


DR.  JARED   CAREY. 

Carey.  He  has  several  rooms  handsomely  fitted  up 
for  his  work  at  43  Arcade,  up-stairs,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Dr.  Carey  gives  employment  to  at  least  six 
people  all  the  time.  His  patrons  are  among  the  best 
people  in  Cincinnati.  In  addition  to  his  regular  work 


Among  Colored  People.  333 

he  has  written  a  book  on  Chiropody  and  Manicure. 
I^or  quite  a  number  of  years  he  has,  in  connection 
with  his  profession,  conducted  a  school  of  Chiropody, 
and  quite  a  number  of  his  pupils  are  engaged  in 
their  profession  in  other  large  cities.  Dr.  Carey  is 
assisted  in  his  work  by  his  wife,  who  is  quite  an  ex 
pert  at  both  Chiropody  and  Manicure.  She  is  a  very 
refined  and  pleasant  lady,  who  is  much  thought  of 
by  their  patrons.  Dr.  Carey  has  by  good  manage 
ment  been  able  to  purchase  some  valuable  property. 
He  has  been  an  active  and  useful  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  Any  young  person,  either  lady  or  gentle 
man,  desiring  to  learn  Chiropody  or  Manicure  would 
do  well  to  write  Dr.  J.  Carey  at  43  Arcade,  Cincin 
nati,  for  full  particulars  as  to  terms.  I  am  confident 
that  in  most  any  large  town  a  good  Chiropodist 
could  do  well,  and  I  should  like  to  see  more  of  the 
colored  people  thus  engaged. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

BANKS,  INSURANCE  COMPANIES,  ETC. 

THERE  has  been  an  impression  in  the  public  mind 
that  colored  men  had  not  the  ability  to  successfully 
conduct  such  enterprises  as  Banks,  Insurance  Com 
panies  and  Building  and  Loan  Associations.  But 
this  impression  is  an  erroneous  one.  I  have  come 
in  contact  with  a  great  many  of  the  men  who  have 
embarked  in  the  Banking,  Insurance,  and  Building 
and  Loan  Associations,  and  I  have  positive  proof  that 
they  are  as  successful  as  the  average  white  man  who 
starts  out  in  these  lines  of  business. 

THE    UNITED    BROTHERHOOD. 
Dr.  Daniel  H.  Williams,  Imperial  Regent ;  Head  Office,  3245  State  St. 

The  colored  people  in  the  United  States  are  the 
only  people  who  have  not  been  permitted  to  know 
the  meanin^  and  feel  the  benefits  of  what  is  known 

C!> 

as  "  Fraternal  Insurance." 

During  the  past  35  years  over  200  Fraternal  As 
sociations  have  been  organized,  and  many  of  them 
have  developed  into  the  most  formidable  agencies  in 
the  world  for  the  protection  of  the  families  and  homes 
of  the  white  races.  Under  this  protection,  millions 
of  men  and  women  of  all  races  of  men,  except  the 
Negro,  have  collected  from  and  paid  to  each  other 
millions  of  dollars  in  benefits,  ameliorated  human 
(334) 


Among  Colored  People.  335 

conditions,  purified  and  strengthened  social  relations, 
and  added  immensely  to  the  sum  total  of  human 
happiness. 

The  United  Brotherhood  is  a  Fraternal  Insurance 
Association  that  has  been  planned  with  the  greatest 
care  and  study  of  every  question  and  circumstance 
that  are  considered  as  peculiar  to  the  colored  race  as 
an  insurable  risk. 

The  plan  of  organziation  embraces  the  best  features 
of  the  best  established  associations  in  the  world.  It 
was  chartered  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
on  the  5th  day  of  September,  1900. 

The  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois  governing  Fra 
ternal  Insurance  are  the  most  exacting  that  can  be 
found  in  any  State  of  the  Union.  Under  these  laws 
the  methods  of  doing  business  are  subject  to  inspec 
tion  by  the  State  Insurance  Commissioner  at  all  times. 

THE    TRUE    REFORMERS. 

The  True  Reformers,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  was  started 
by  W.  W.  Browne,  at  his  own  residence ;  and  while 
I  fully  believe  that  Mr.  Browne  knew  just  what 
he  wanted  to  do,  I  don't  think  that  even  he  foresaw 
the  gigantic  affair  the  True  Reformers  have  turned 
out  to  be.  They  have  their  headquarters  at  Rich 
mond,  Va.,  in  a  splendid  building  of  their  own, 
which  is  three  stories  high.  In  the  upper  story 
they  have  a  very  excellent  opera  house  ;  in  the  second 
lodge  rooms,  and  in  the  first  the  largest  bank  in  the 


33^  Evidences  of  Progress 

world  owned  by  colored  people.  I  shall  now  give 
an  account  of  the  work  of  the  True  Reformers  fur 
nished  me  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Burrell,  General  Secretary 
of  the  society : 

"The  Grand  Fountain,  United  Order  of  True  Re 
formers,  founded  by  Wm.  W.  Browne  in  Virginia  in 
January,  1881,  now  numbers  1500  Fountains,  400 
Rosebud  Societies  and  1000  Class  Circles.  The 
total  benefited  membership  is  50,000.  The  order 
operates  in  twenty-two  States  and  holds  forty  pieces 
of  real  estate,  valued  at  more  than  $2,000,000.  It 
has  paid  in  death  benefits  over  $500,000  and  more 
than  $1,000,000  in  sick  dues. 

"  Besides  the  purely  benevolent  part  of  the  order 
there  is  connected  with  it  their  Savings  Bank  of  the 
Grand  Fountain,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000 
and  deposits  exceeding  $200,000.  The  Reformers' 
Mercantile  and  Industrial  Association,  organized 
April,  1900,  now  does  a  business  of  $1500  a  week. 
The  Old  Folks'  Home  Department,  organized  for 
the  benefit  of  the  old  members  of  the  race,  is  in 
good  shape.  A  farm  of  624  acres  has  been  bought 
and  paid  for,  and  arrangements  are  now  being 
pushed  to  put  about  100  old  colored  people  at  the 
Home. 

"  In  1 88 1  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Browne  started  the  order, 
being  assisted  by  one  clerk  and  boy  of  all  work,  Mr. 
W.  P.  Burrell.  At  the  death  of  Rev.  Browne,  in 
1897,  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Taylor,  who 
had  for  twelve  years  been  connected  with  the  work 
as  an  organizer.  While  under  Mr.  Browne  the  work 


Among  Colored  People.  337 

succeeded  beyond  expectations,  yet  the  growth  under 
Rev.  Taylor  has  been  phenomenal.  The  plans  as 
laid  by  Rev.  Browne  have  been  more  appreciated 
since  his  death  than  before.  Many  new  features 
have  been  introduced,  and  the  order  continues  to  in 
crease. 

"  The  management  is  divided  into  departments, 
and  at  the  main  office  there  are  over  eighty  clerks 
employed. 

"  The  following  are  the  general  officers  of  the  or 
ganization  :  Rev.  W.  L.  Taylor,  Grand  Master  and 
President;  W.  P.  Burrell,  General  Secretary;  R.  T. 
Hill,  Cashier;  E.  W.  Brown,  Editor  of  the  Re 
former;  J.  C.  Robertson,  Attorney  and  Chief  of 
Real  Estate;  T.  W.  Taylor,  Chief  of  Old  Folks' 
Home;  Edward  Ellis,  Jr.,  Accountant. 

"  Under  Rev.  Taylor  there  are  a  large  host  of  depu 
ties  and  field  workers,  at  the  head  of  whom  are  Rev. 
E.  T.  Anderson,  Vice  Grand  Master  and  Deputy 
General  of  the  Southern  Field  ;  Rev.  J.  T.  Carpenter, 
Deputy  General  of  the  Western  Field  ;  Mr.  C.  A. 
Puryear,  Deputy  General  of  the  Northern  Field. 

"Since  the  organization  of  the  bank,  in  1888, 
there  have  been  handled  by  it  $6,000,000.  The  Re 
formers'  Hotel  is  conveniently  located,  is  steam- 
heated,  and  has  first-class  accommodations  for  105 
guests.  It  is  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Baker 
streets,  and  a  line  of  street-cars  pass  the  door. 

"  The  work  of  the  main  office  is  commenced  with 
prayer  each  morning;  the  clerks  assemble  at  eight 
o'clock." 


338 


Evidences  of  Progress 


I  am  sure  that  my  readers  will  agree  with  me 
that  the  account  given  by  Secretary  Burrell,  showing 
what  has  been  done  by  the  True  Reformers,  is 
worthy  of  more  than  passing  comment.  It  is  a 


REV.    W.    W.    BROWNE. 

Founder  of  True  Reformers. 


matter  that  should  demand  the  greatest  interest  and 
consideration  of  the  colored  people  in  all  parts  of 
our  country.  To  me  there  is  one  grand  lesson 
taught  in  the  success  of  this  order  that  all  may  profit 
by  if  they  will,  and  that  is  that  colored  people  can 


Among  Colored  People. 


339 


successfully  manage  a  large  business  enterprise  with 
out  any  assistance  or  advice  on  the  part  of  the 
whites.  Now  comes  the  question  that  doubtless 
many  will  ask.  If  the  colored  people  can  organize 
and  push  on  with  great  success  the  bank,  hotel  and 
wholesale  and  retail  grocery  store,  as  Mr.  Burrell's 
statement  proves  beyond  a  doubt,  then  why  cannot 
colored  people  in  all  parts  of  this  country  organize  SO- 


TRUE  REFORMERS'  BANK  BUILDING. 

cieties  and  .stock  companies  for  the  purpose  of  get 
ting  members  of  the  race  into  all  kinds  of  business, 
which  would  not  only  help  those  engaged  in  the  dif 
ferent  enterprises,  but  it  would  give  the  colored 
people  as  a  race  dignity  and  standing  among  the 
better  class  of  the  whites  that  would  prove  helpful 
beyond  my  power  to  express  ?  Let  us  hope  that 
.the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  we  may  count  with 
pride  many  such  grand  societies  as  the  True  Re 
formers. 


34O  Evidences  of  Progress 

ALABAMA  PENNY  SAVING  AND  LOAN  COMPANY,  LOCATED 
AT  BIRMINGHAM,  ALA.,  AND  CONTROLLED  ENTIRELY 
BY  COLORED  PEOPLE. 

It  was  opened  for  business  the  1 5th  of  October, 
1890.  Rev.  W.  R.  Pettiford  was  elected  President, 
which  position  he  now  holds,  being  elected  seven 
consecutive  times.  Mr.  B.  H.  Hudson  as  Cashier  has 
held  his  position  from  the  first.  Mr.  Peter  F.  Clark 
is  Vice-President ;  to  these  are  added  as  Directors — 
Rev.  J.  I.  Jackson,  Thomas  Benford,  Prof.  F.  S.  Hayel, 
Rev.  T.  W.  Walker,  T.  D.  Davis  and  Rev.  J.  Q.  A. 
Wilhite  who  has  charge  of  the  Institution.  These 
men  sold  stock  sufficient  to  be  incorporated  Feb.  i6th, 
1894,  with  a  capital  stock  of  twenty-five  thousand  dol 
lars,  ($25,000)  with  the  privilege  of  increasing  to  one 
hundred  thousand.  There  is  deposited  from  one  hun 
dred  thousand  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thou 
sand  dollars  per  year.  They  carry  $28,000  on  deposit 
now.  The  bank  owns  its  business  house  of  three 
story  brick,  which  is  well  tenanted  and  from  this  and 
other  Real  Estate,  it  has  a  rental  income  of  one  thou 
sand  two  hundred  and  ninety-seven  dollars,  ($1,297) 
per  year.  The  Real  Estate  is  worth  over  ten  thou 
sand  dollars.  The  bank  has  made  rapid  progress 
under  the  present  management  and  is  now  regarded 
as  a  fixture.  It  has  four  persons  in  its  employ,  a  good 
safe  vault  and  a  neat  set  of  oak  finish  fixtures  which 
makes  the  appearance  attractive. 

This  bank  pulling  through  the  panic  and  buying  a 
nice  three  story  brick  building  on  2Oth  street,  has 
greatly  strengthened  confidence  in  its  business. 


Among  Colored  People.  341 

WASHINGTON    COMMISSION    AND   SUPPLY   CO. 

The  Washington  Commission  and  Supply  Com 
pany  of  Washington,  D.  C,  started  in  1897,  is  a 
movement  on  the  part  of  a  number  of  Colored  men 
of  this  city  to  control  much  of  the  trade  among  the 
Colored  residents  and  to  give  the  youth  an  oppor 
tunity  in  business  pursuits.  It  is  a  co-operative  con 
cern,  but  somewhat  restrictive  as  to  membership. 
Those  who  started  the  enterpise  decided,  in  order  to 
insure  success,  it  should  be  self-supporting.  Thirty 
men  of  families,  fifteen  of  whom  were  clergymen  and 
fifteen  laymen,  joined  heartily  in  the  enterprise.  It 
was  estimated  that  these  families  would  spend  from 
$20  to  $40  each  for  table  supplies.  If  these  men 
would  patronize  their  own  interests,  the  store  would 
do  a  business  from  $600  to  $1000  per  month  inde 
pendent  of  outside  trade. 

The  store  has  been  in  operation  but  three  months. 
Three  clerks  are  employed  and  five  agents  are  at  work. 
The  store  has  sold  a  little  over  $1800,00  worth  of 
goods  in  these  three  months.  Indications  are  flatter 
ing  for  a  larger  business. 

The  last  week  before  writing  this,  was  the  best  in 
its  history.  It  contemplates  opening  branch  stores 
all  over  the  city.  The  authorities  believe  in  moving 
continuously.  They  believe  it  is  only  a  matter  of  time 
when  through  the  pastors  connected  with  them  and 
through  their  many  friends  they  will  control  much  of 
the  trade  of  the  85,000  colored  people  in  the  District 
of  Columbia.  They  will  add  a  boot  and  shoe 
business. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

PATENTS    AND    OTHER    BUSINESS    INTERESTS. 

AMONG  the  colored  people  we  find  a  few  inventors 
whose  patents  are  being  used  throughout  this  coun 
try.  Mr.  E.  McCoy,  of  Detroit,  Mich,  invented  the 
"  Lubricator,"  and  it  is  being  used  on  nearly  all  the 
railroad  engines  in  the  United  States.  A  large  fac 
tory  has  been  built  in  Detroit  for  the  manufacture  of 
the  Lubricator.  The  late  Mr.  D.  F.  Black,  of 
Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  had  invented  several  patents,  and 
was  before  his  death  engaged  in  manufacturing  a 
cocoanut  food,  and,  I  understand,  met  with  fair 
success.  Rev.  J.  B.  Randolph,  of  Trenton,  N.  J., 
has  taken  out  a  patent  on  an  apparatus  for  heating 
and  cooking,  claiming  that  at  least  one-half  of  the 
fuel  now  used  in  heating  a  house  can  be  saved  by  the 
use  of  his  patent. 

Mr.  H.  Creamer,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  has  invented 
an  automatic  steam  pump  that  seems  to  have  made  a 
good  impression  among  those  who  have  tested  it,  for 
it  is  very  highly  spoken  of. 

I  shall  mention  in  this  chapter  a  few  colored  men  I 
have  met  who  are  engaged  in  various  lines  of  business. 
Mr.  W.  A.  Hazel,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  is  a  decorator 
and  designer.  Some  of  the  handsomest  window 
glass  used  for  churches  is  designed  by  Mr.  Hazel. 

Mr.  Jas.  H.  Matthews,  of  New  York  City,  has 
(342) 


Among-  Colored  People.  343 

built  up  a  very  large  business  as  an  undertaker.  His 
patrons  are  among  all  classes  of  people.  He  has 
been  an  active  member  of  the  Undertakers'  Associa 
tion  of  the  State.  In  fact,  he  has  held  responsible  posi 
tions  in  the  association. 

It  is  quite  a  common  thing  to  find  colored  men 
engaged  in  large  business  enterprises  in  the  South, 
where  the  colored  population  is  large.  There  are, 
however,  a  few  North  who  are  engaged  in  business 
to  a  greater  or  lesser  degree.  In  Trenton,  N.  J.,  I 
met  Mr.  J.  W.  Rodman,  who  has  built  a  splendid 
brick  building,  in  which  he  conducts  a  very  success 
ful  grocery  business,  and  I  am  sure  the  largest  trade 
he  has  is  among  the  white  people. 

At  Evansville,  Ind.,  I  found  Mr.  John  Neville  and 
Mr.  McWhorter.  These  gentlemen  were  conducting 
a  fine  barber  shop  and  a  magnificent  Turkish  bath 
house.  It  is  the  only  place  of  its  kind  I  ever  found 
operated  by  colored  men.  That  was  in  1893,  and  I 
suppose  they  are  still  engaged  in  the  same  work. 

Providence,  R.  I.,  has  a  colored  man  by  the  name 
of  Richard  Grant  who  was  in  his  younger  days  a 
slave  in  North  Carolina.  He  began  life  in  Providence 
as  a  common  day-laborer.  He  now  owns  and  con 
trols  the  street-sprinkling  business  of  that  city, 
having  five  wagons  made  for  that  special  work. 

Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  can  boast  of  one,  at  least,  very 
successful  colored  merchant  in  Mr.  Peter  Postel,  who 
was  once  a  slave.  He  owns  a  very  large  brick  build 
ing  where  his  business  is  conducted,  besides  houses 
he  has  to  rent.  I  am  unable  to  say  what  his  wealth 


344  Evidences  of  Progress 

is,  but  I  am  told  that  he  is  quite  a  wealthy  man. 
While  he  has  been  deprived  of  an  education,  he  has 
given  his  children  every  advantage  along  that  line. 

Mr.  E.  Watts,  of  South  Chester,  Pa.,  has  by  hard 
work  and  close  attention  to  his  business  built  up  a 
good  trade  in  the  grocery  business.  His  brother, 
Mr.  John  A.  Watts,  who  has  passed  away,  began  in 
Chester  at  hard  work,  and  when  he  died  owned  a 
fine  grocery  store  and  several  houses. 

At  Boston,  Mass.,  one  of  the  most  successful  wig- 
makers  is  a  colored  man  who  conducts  what  is 
known  as  Gilbert  &  Co.'s  Wig  Manufactory.  He 
owns  the  establishment  he  learned  his  trade  in.  His 
name  is  Gilbert  Harris. 

The  late  Thomas  H.  Boling,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
operated  quite  a  wholesale  and  retail  store  where 
choice  flour,  soaps,  starch,  and  a  general  line  of 
groceries  were  sold.  In  speaking  of  his  success  he 
said  :  "  When  I  started  this  business  I  did  not  have 
as  many  hundred  dollars  as  I  can  muster  thou 
sands  now."  And  yet  he  did  not  try  to  impress  me 
with  the  fact  that  he  was  wealthy.  But  it  is 
generally  known  that  Mr.  Boling  has  been  a  very 
successful  man. 

JOSEPH    H.    DICKINSON. 

Joseph  H.  Dickinson  was  born  June  22,  1855*  ^e 
attended  school  in  Detroit,  Mich.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Revenue 
Service.  At  seventeen  years  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Clough  &  Warren  Organ  Co.,  where  he  now  is. 


Among  Colored  People.  345 

and  in  whose  service  some  of  his  best  work  has  been 
accomplished.  In  1880,  he  married  Miss  Eva  Gould, 
of  Lexington,  Mich.,  and  two  years  after  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  father-in-law,  known  as  the 


J.   H.   DICKINSON. 

Dickinson-Gould  Organ  Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of 
parlor  and  chapel  organs.  This  firm  sent  to  the 
New  Orleans  exhibition  a  large  chapel  organ  as  an 
exhibit  showing  the  progress  of  the  colored  people 
in  manufacturing.  Prior  to  this,  for  the  Centennial 


34-6  Evidences  of  Progress 

Exposition  in  1876,  Mr.  Dickinson  helped  to  construct 
a  large  combination  organ  for  the  Clough  &  Warren 
Organ  Co.,  which  received  a  diploma  and  medal.  In 
1886.  Mr.  Dickinson  returned  to  the  employ  of 
Clough  &  Warren  and  his  chief  work  lies  in  superin 
tending  the  building  of  the  higher  grade  of  organs. 

Mr.  Dickinson  is  a  practical  workman  of  an 
inventive  turn  of  mind,  a  good  draughtsman  and 
designer,  and  an  expert  in  all  kinds  of  organ-build 
ing.  A  few  years  ago  he  built  and  finished  two 
organs  for  the  royal  family  of  Portugal.  A  pipe 
organ  built  on  new  methods  is  one  of  the  products 
of  the  Clough  &  Warren  Co.,  and  is  pushing  its  way 
into  many  places.  The  Christian  Church,  St. 
Matthews  P.  E.  Church,  and  the  Church  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  all  of  Detroit,  have  organs  built  on 
this  method,  that  were  designed  by  and  constructed 
under  his  superintendency.  Last  year,  against  the 
competition  of  Eastern  manufacturers,  this  company 
secured  the  contract  for  putting  in  a  large  pipe 
organ  for  the  Tabernacle  Methodist  Church,  at  Cam- 
den,  N.  J.  The  case  for  the  same  was  also  subject 
to  competition,  and  the  design  of  Mr.  Dickinson  was 
chosen  in  preference  to  that  of  Eastern  designers  and 
architects. 

The  reed  organs  of  Clough  &  Warren  are  cele 
brated  and  are  largely  made  so  through  the  ideas 
and  supervision  .of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  perfecting  a  reed  organ  that  pos 
sesses  some  of  the  qualities  and  tones  of  a  pipe 
organ — a  tubular  pneumatic  action — that  bids  fair 


Among  Colored  People.  347 

to  be  very  successful.  An  organ  on  this  plan  is  be 
ing  used  at  the  Sunday  evening  services  at  the 
Detroit  Opera  House. 

Mr.  Dickinson  possesses  good,  strong,  sterling 
characteristics. 

TRADE    UNION    CORPORATION    OF    WINSTON-SALEM,  N.  C. 

On  May  3,  1897,  a  few  persons,  led  by  Rev.  John 
T.  Martin,  joined  themselves  together  for  the  pur 
pose  of  buying  and  selling  groceries,  etc.  About 
sixty  dollars  was  collected  and  paid  over  to  Rev. 
Martin,  who  was  made  business  manager. 

A  room  belonging  to  the  business  manager  was 
rented  and  the  money  invested  in  goods.  Thus  was 
formed  the  foundation  of  the  successful  organization 
known  as  the  Trade  Union. 

In  the  fall  a  lot  was  purchased  on  the  corner  of 
Eighth  and  Lendon  streets,  and  a  building  20  x  40 
feet  was  erected  thereon.  The  following  summer  a 
great  addition  was  made  to  this  structure,  and  now 
the  Trade  Union  building  contains  an  area  of  3,200 
square  feet  of  floor  space,  and  is  now  the  largest 
store  building  owned  by  colored  people  in  the  city 
of  Winston-Salem. 

On  January  9,  1899,  a  charter  was  granted  by  the 
Secretary  of  State,  and  the  Trade  Union  became  a 
corporate  body,  with  a  capital  privilege  of  ten  thou 
sand  ($10,000)  dollars  ;  also  rights  and  powers  which 
enable  the  Directors  to  deal  in  all  manner  of  real 
and  personal  property.  On  the  second  anniversary 


348  Evidences  Progress* 

of  this  company  the  assets  amounted  to  more  than 

$3  Poo- 
It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Union  to  open  a  savings 
bank    in    connection    with    their    business.       Mr.    J. 
S.  Mill,  a  most  excellent  man,  is  now  president  of 
the  company. 

THREE    PROMINENT    ARTISTS. 

While  in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1895,  I  met  Mr.  Nel 
son  A.  Primus,  who  painted  that  wonderful  picture 
(18  x  24  feet),  "  Christ  Before  Pilate."  This  gentleman 
is  certainly  a  remarkable  artist  and  his  portrait  work 
is  received  in  Boston  alongside  of  the  productions 
of  the  very  finest  artists  of  the  city. 

Mr.  M.  E.  Bannister,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  painted 
the  picture  called  "  Under  the  Oaks,"  that  was 
awarded  the  first  gold  medal  at  the  great  Centennial 
Exposition  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1876.  His 
painting  was  sold  for  $1,500. 

Prof.  H.  O.  Tanner  has  painted  a  picture  called 
"The  Banjo  Lesson,"  that  sold  for  $800. 

The  colored  race  has  produced  a  great  many  ex 
ceptionally  fine  artists,  and  it  is  in  the  realm  of  art 
that  the  highest  possibilities  of  any  race  are 
indicated. 

Prof.  Tanner  has  recently  sold  to  the  French  Gov 
ernment  for  the  Luxembourg  Gallery  a  large  picture 
representing  "  The  Raising  of  Lazarus."  Mr.  Tanner 
is  the  second  American  artist  who  has  sold  one  of 
his  paintings  to  the  French  Art  Gallery. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

COLORED    EDITORS    AND   JOURNALISTS. 

THERE  are  published  in  the  United  States  to-day 
between  250  and  300  newspapers  and  periodicals  de 
voted  to  the  interests  of  the  colored  people.  The 
prices  of  these,  compared  with  the  many  other  arti 
cles  of  luxury  for  which  they  pay  so  freely,  are  ridic 
ulously  low ;  and  yet  no  field  of  labor  for  educated 
men  and  women  of  the  race  is  so  perplexing  and  en 
cumbered  with  so  many  difficulties. 

But  among  those  who  have  made  a  success 
of  journalism  are  the  men  and  women  mentioned 
in  this  chapter. 

T.    THOMAS    FORTUNE. 

Mr.  T.  Thomas  Fortune,  the  best-known  journal 
ist,  both  among  white  and  colored  people,  is  really 
the  pioneer  among  the  colored  journalists  of 
the  United  States.  He  has  labored  as  an  editorial 
writer  on  the  New  York  Sun  for  a  great  many  years, 
and  he  is  the  only  colored  man  whose  opinions  on 
important  questions  are  published  at  length  in  white 
newspapers.  His  work  on  the  Times-Herald,  of 
Chicago,  111.,  and  other  great  dailies,  has  been  the 
most  creditable,  and  has  been  the  subject  of  more 
liberal  discussion  than  that  of  any  other  writer. 

Mr.  Fortune's  stand  for  right  and  justice  to  all 
classes  of  American  citizens  has  endeared  him  to 

(349) 


350 


Evidences  of  Progress 


every  man  and  woman  who  appreciates  fair  play. 
He  is  in  Negro  journalism  what  Charles  Dana,  Esq., 
is  to  white  journalism — a  leader.  He  has  been  pub 
lishing  the  New  York  Age  for  a  great  many  years, 


T.    THOMAS    FORTUNE. 


and  that  paper  is  recognized  to-day  as  the  official 
organ  of  the  colored  people.  Wherever  Mr.  Fortune 
goes  he  is  always  sought  out  by  the  leading  news 
paper  and  professional  men  and  accorded  a  royal 


Among  Colored  People.  351 

reception.     I  regard  him  as  the  most  valuable  man 
in  his  line  living  to-day. 


E.  E.  COOPER. 

Edward  Elder  Cooper  is  a  man  of  Southern  birth, 
full  of  vim,  energy,  enterprise  and  pluck.  He  is 
the  founder  of  the  Indianapolis  Freeman,  which  at 
tained  a  national  reputation  under  his  skilful  man 
agement  some  years  ago.  He  removed  to  Wash 
ington,  D.  C,  in  1892,  after  disposing  of  his  interest 
in  the  Freeman,  where  he  established  the  Colored 
American,  an  eight-page  illustrated  newspaper.  Mr. 
Cooper's  strong  point  is  as  a  business  manager. 
He  has  had  phenomenal  success  with  the  Colored 
American,  among  the  solid  business  men  of  Wash 
ington,  who  know  it  as  a  safe,  reliable  and  useful 
advertising  medium.  One  of  the  great  features  of 
the  Colored  American  is  its  portraits  of  eminent 
Negroes,  which  it  publishes  from  week  to  week;  this 
feature  is  a  big  card  for  the  paper  and  is  greatly  ap 
preciated  by  the  masses.  The  Colored  American  is 
national  in  its  scope  and  work  and  publishes  the 
news  from  every  section  of  the  country.  A  compe 
tent  force  of  Negro  compositors  and  correspondents, 
which  include  some  of  the  best  writers  among  the 
race,  make  the  Colored  American  a  very  desirable 
and  welcome  weekly  visitor  in  the  homes  of  thou 
sands  of  the  best  people  of  both  races. 

Mr.  Cooper  is  comparatively  a  young  man  ;  he  is 
not  yet  forty.  He  has,  through  his  paper,  popularized 


352 


Evidences  of  Progress 


more  struggling  Negroes,  who  have  been  hitherto 
unknown,  than  any  other  publisher  of  a  race  paper. 
The  subscription  to  the  Colored  American  is  two  dol 
lars  per  annum.  It  is  published  at  829  /th  street  N.  W., 


E.    E.    COOPER. 


Washington,  D.  C,  in  one  of  the  most  central  busi- 
ness  locations  in  the  capital  city.  In  connection  with 
his  newspaper,  Mr.  Cooper  keeps  on  sale  at  his  count 
ing-room  all  of  the  most  prominent  Negro  journals 
published,  and  has  also  undertaken  to  cater  to  the 


Among  Colored  People,  353 

wants  of  those  desiring  Negro  literature.  All  the 
latest  books,  pamphlets,  public  addresses  of  colored 
authors,  writers  and  speakers  can  be  obtained  from  the 
Colored  American  office  on  application.  And  there 
are  many  good  books  by  Negro  authors  and  by 
others  friendly  to  the  race  which  may  be  found  on 
his  shelves.  This  paper  recently  issued  a  mammoth 
edition  of  50,000  copies  which  is  said  to  be  the 
largest  edition  ever  issued  by  a  Negro  publisher. 
Mr.  Cooper  is  popular  with  the  members  of  the 
profession,  and  never  hesitates  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  to  his  struggling  brethren  of  the  press.  He 
is  a  genial,  open-hearted,  open-handed,  rollicking 
good  fellow,  who  makes  friends  easily  and  who 
knows  how  to  keep  them.  He  exercises  a  sort  of 
hypnotic  influence  over  prospective  advertisers  who 
generally  come  his  way.  The  American  is  strictly 
a  newspaper  in  the  broader  sense  of  the  term  neivs- 
paper,  and  is  conscientiously  devoted  to  the  moral  and 
material  uplifting  and  advancement  of  the  race  whose 
necessities  have  called  it  into  being.  He  deserves  great 
credit  for  his  courage  and  his  unyielding  faith  in  the 
possibilities  of  Negro  journalism;  and  he  will,  in  the 
future,  command  the  admiration  of  his  race,  which 
has  now  but  small  appreciation  for  the  sacrifices,  and 
self-denial,  of  the  brave  men  who  fight  its  battles 
through  the  media  of  the  Negro  press  of  the  country. 

PROF.    W.    S.    SCARBOROUGH,    LL.  D. 

Prof.     Scarborough    is     the     most     distinguished 
scholar  of  the  race  to-day.      His  experience  in  teach- 
23 


354 


Evidences  of  Progress 


ing' has  been  large  and  varied.  Clear  in  explanation, 
polished  in  language  and  bearing,  profound  in  schol 
arship,  always  the  perfect  gentleman,  he  has  im 
pressed  himself  upon  many  young  minds  as  few 


PROF.    W.    S.    SCARBOROUGH,    LL.  D. 

young  men  have  been  able  to  do.  Add  to  these 
characteristics  a  most  laudable  ambition,  an  unflinch 
ing  steadfastness  of  purpose,  unwavering  uprightness 
and  straightforward  devotion  to  principle,  and  we 
find  wherein  lies  the  power  which  has  enabled  him 


Among  Colored  People.  355 

to  attain  the  heights  and  win  the  fame  which  is  un 
deniably  his.  But  his  has  not  been  the  mere  routine 
of  a  teacher's  life;  he  has  been  an  incessant  student, 
an  indefatigable  worker.  During  1880  he  prepared 
his  "  First  Lessons  in  Greek,"  which  was  published 
by  A.  S.  Barnes  &  Co.,  in  June,  1881.  This  book, 
the  first  of  the  kind  ever  written  by  a  colored  man, 
has  received  the  highest  encomiums  from  the  press, 
while  its  merits  have  been  recognized  and  acknowl 
edged  by  some  of  the  finest  scholars  in  the  land.  It 
has  also  received  the  most  practical  recognition — • 
that  of  adoption — by  schools  and  colleges,  both  white 
and  colored. 

Mr.  Scarborough  is  a  regular  contributor  to  Har 
per's  Magazine,  the  Forum,  and  the  North  American 
Review. 

REV.    H.    T.    JOHNSON,    D.  D.,    PH.  D. 

Rev.  Henry  Theodore  Johnson  was  born  at 
Georgetown,  S.  C,  October  10,  1857. 

His  early  life  was  spent  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town  until  his  fourteenth  year. 

He  has  attended  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Columbia,  the  South  Carolina  University,  Howard 
University  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Lincoln  Uni 
versity  in  Pennsylvania. 

His  "  Elements  or  rsycnic  Philosophy,"  a  clear  cut 
but  brief  treatise  on  mental  science,  and  his  "  How 
to  Get  On,"  an  admirably  written  and  highly  instruc 
tive  series  of  essays,  are  two  of  his  books.  Having 


356 


Evidences  of  Progress 


REV.    H.    T.   JOHNSON,    D.  D.,  PH.  D. 

been  called  to  the  chair  of  mental  and  moral  phi 
losophy  by  the  trustees  of  Allen  University  in  South 
Carolina,  he  taught  but  a  short  time,  when  he  re 
signed  for  a  more  inviting  field  in  Tennessee.  Under 
the  auspices  of  his  church,  he  here  founded  the  in 
stitution  known  as  Slater  College.  In  connection 
with  his  school  presidency,  he  was  presiding  elder 
of  a  large  district  for  three  years. 

His  "  Divine  Logos  "  was  written  and  published  in 
1891.  As  a  unique  Christological  treatise  it  was 
spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms.  Some  idea  of  the 


Among  Colored  People.  357 

recognized  ability  of  Dr.  Johnson  is  indicated  by  his 
having  been  clothed  with  the  editorial  responsibility 
of  the  leading  organ  of  his  church  and  race  at  the 
session  of  the  General  Conference  in  May,  1892. 
The  degee  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  was  conferred  on 
him  by  Paul  Quinn  College,  while  that  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  was  granted  by  Wilberforce  University. 
Dr.  Johnson  has  already  exerted  an  abiding  influ 
ence  upon  his  race. 

REV.  j.  w.  SMITH. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Smith  was  elected  at  the  last  General 
Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  which  met 
in  Mobile,  Ala.,  in  May,  1896,  as  the  Editor  of  the 
Star  of  Zion,  which  is  the  official  organ  of  the  church- 
As  a  writer  Mr.  Smith  is  an  able  one,  and  I  am  sure 
that  the  general  feeling  is  that  a  wiser  choice  could 
not  have  been  made.  The  paper  is  published  at 
Charlotte,  N.  C,  where  the  Zion  Church  owns  a  splen 
did  property  known  as  their  publishing  department. 
I  have  known  Rev.  Smith  for  years,  and  I  am  glad 
for  the  good  of  the  connection  that  he  has  been 
chosen  as  their  editor. 

He  succeeds  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Clinton,  D.  D.,  who  was 
elected  to  the  Bishopric  at  the  last  General  Conference. 

WM.    H.    STEWART. 

Wm.  H.  Stewart  is  a  native  of  Louisville,  Ky.  He 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  public  affairs, 
and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He 
is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  of  the  5th 


358 


Evidences  of  Progress 


Street  Baptist  Church  and  leader  of  its  choir,  which 
is  one  of  the  best  in  the  country.  Mr.  Stewart  is 
chairman  of  Board  of  Trustees  of  State  University, 
located  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  is  secretary  of  the 


WM.    H.    STEWART. 


National  Baptist  Convention  ;   he  has  held  this  posi 
tion  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Stewart  also  has  charge  of  the  Sunday-school 
work  of  the  State,  for  the  American  Baptist  Pub 
lication  Society  of  Philadelphia.  He  is  m;ui;i^cr 
and  publisher  of  the  American  Baptist,  which  is  the 


Among  Colored  People. 


359 


oldest  and  most  extensively  circulated  newspaper  in 
the  denomination.  Mr.  Stewart  holds  other  useful 
places,  where  he  is  helpful  to  the  race.  He  owns  a 
beautiful  home,  and  has  some  very  refined  and 
cultured  children.  His  daughters,  at  least  two  of 
them,  have  taken  a  course  in  art,  and  they  paint 
beautifully;  most  of  the  fine  paintings  in  his  home 
were  painted  by  them. 


REV.    L.   J.    COPPIN,    D.  D. 


Rev.    L.  J.   Coppin,   D.  D.,   who    for   eight    years 
was   editor   of  the  A.  M.  £.   Church  Review^  is   a 


360  Evidences  of  Progress 

bright  literary  light.  He  is  the  author  of  quite 
a  number  of  interesting  books.  The  following 
are  the  titles  of  some  of  them :  "  The  Sunday 
School :  Its  Work  and  How  to  Do  it ; "  "In  Me- 
moriam  :  Katie  S.  Campbell  Beckett ;  "  "  The  Rela 
tion  of  Baptized  Children  to  the  Church,"  and  a 
"  Key  to  Scriptural  Interpretation." 

Rev.  Coppin  is  a  graduate  of  the  P.  E.  Divinity 
School  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  was  elected  editor 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  Review  in  May,  1888,  and 
re-elected  in  1892.  The  work  has  been  admirably 
done  under  his  editorship.  He  now  gives  way  to 
his  successor,  Prof.  H.  T.  Kealing,  B.  S.,  A.  M.,  who 
was  elected  at  the  last  General  Conference. 

WILLIAM    H.    ANDERSON. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  one  of  the  bright  literary  lights 
among  the  young  men  of  the  race.  His  work,  with 
that  of  Mr.  Stowers,  a  novel,  entitled  "  Appointed," 
is  a  very  creditable  showing  of  his  ability  as  a  writer. 
His  first  work  as  a  writer  was  done  when  he  was  em 
ployed  as  the  mailing  clerk  of  the  Detroit  Free  Press. 
After  his  graduation  from  the  city  high  school  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Newcomb,  Endicott  &  Co., 
to  carry  parcels.  He  has  been  working  for  this  com 
pany  ever  since.  He  now  has  charge  of  the  books 
and  credits  for  the  carpet  department  of  Newcomb, 
Endicott  &  Co.  No  goods  come  into  his  department 
unless  checked  by  him  and  none  go  out  without  his 
signature. 

Mr.  Anderson's  editorials,  written  for  the  Plain- 
dealer,  on  social  and  economic  questions,  were  read 


Among  Colored  People. 


36, 


W.   H.    ANDERSON. 

with  great  interest.     He  was  also  a  part  owner  of  the 
Plaindealer,  which  was  a  magnificent  paper. 

j.  E.  BRUCE. 

John  Edward  Bruce  (Bruce  Grit)  was  born  a  slave 
in  the  State  of  Maryland.  He  attended  school  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  for 
a  period  of  three  months,  when  he  became  a  student 
in  the  University  of  Adversity,  where  he  acquired  dis 
tinction  as  a  racy  and  trenchant  writer.  He  has  been 


363 


Evidences  of  Progress 


a  regular  contributor  to  newspapers  and  special  cor 
respondent  since  1874. 

He   is  the  author  of  a  well-written  pamphlet,  en 
titled  "  The  Blot  on  the  Escutcheon,"  which  treats  of 


j.  E.  BRUCE. 

the  lynching  evil  in  the  South.  Has  written  numer 
ous  short  stories  for  race  papers,  more  or  less  meri 
torious,  and  which  show  him  to  have  the  journalistic 
instinct.  He  has  a  larger  acquaintance  with  public 
men  than  any  other  Negro  newspaper  correspondent 


Among  Colored  People.  363 

in  America,  and  has  been  the  recipient  of  hundreds 
of  autograph  letters  from  eminent  men  concerning 
public  questions  affecting-  the  Negro.  Among  them 
are  such  distinguished  men  as  Wm.  E.  Gladstone, 
Roscoe  Conkling,  Levi  P.  Morton,  John  A.  Logan, 
Geo.  F.  Hoar,  J.  S.  Clarkson,  A.  W.  Tourgee  and 
many  others.  Mr.  Bruce  has  possibly  as  fine  a  col 
lection  of  scrap-books  as  one  would  wish  to  see. 
Among  them  (there  are  three  of  them)  is  one 
which  contains  over  a  thousand  columns  of  matter 
from  his  own  pen,  the  result  of  his  labors  since  1874. 
Another  contains  important  correspondence  valued 
for  the  autographs  of  the  distinguished  writers;  in 
this  scrap-book  is  contained  a  letter  from  Mr.  Glad 
stone,  with  his  autograph,  the  autographs  of  Grover 
Cleveland,  Chester  A.  Arthur,  Cardinal  Gibbons, 
Baron  H.  Von  Lindern,  of  Amsterdam,  Holland, 
James  Russell  Lowell,  John  Hay,  W.  W.  Astor, 
Frederick  Douglass,  James  Freeman  Clark,  R.  G. 
Ingersoll,  William  McKinley,  J.  N.  Bonaparte,  Geo. 
F.  Edmunds,  Geo.  William  Curtis,  William  Mahone, 
William  E.  Dodge,  Bishop  Phillips  Brooks,  James 
Theodore  Holly,  Bishop  of  Hayti,  Hon.  John  W. 
Foster,  Rev.  Alexander  Crummell,  Hon.  Edward 
Wilmot  Blyden  and  other  distinguished  personages, 
Mr.  Bruce  is  a  voluminous  and  witty  writer,  and  rep 
resents  over  a  dozen  of  the  best  Negro  newspapers 
now  published. 

JOURNALISM    IN    PHILADELPHIA. 

In  noting  the  journalistic  efforts    of  the    colored 


^64  Evidences  of  Progress 

people,  Philadelphia  can  proudly  boast  of  having 
eight  live  newspapers  and  two  magazines  that  reflect 
real  credit  on  the  colored  race.  The  first  to  be  con 
sidered  is  the  Weekly  Tribune,  one  of  the  very  few 
colored  papers  in  the  United  States  that  is  actually 
making  money.  It  was  founded  in  1884  by  Mr. 
Christopher  J.  Perry,  and  has  steadily  advanced  as 
the  years  rolled  on,  until  now  it  is  established  on 
a  solid  financial  basis.  It  is  bright,  crisp,  newsy,  and 
the  most  popular  newspaper  among  the  colored  peo 
ple  in  the  city. 

The  Standard-Echo  began  publication  in  1883, 
with  Mr.  Abel  P.  Caldwell  as  managnne  editor.  The 

o        o 

Ec/whas  enjoyed  all  the  experiences  of  the  average 
Negro  journal. 

The  Sunday  Journal,  a  new  feature  in  Negro  jour 
nalism,  was  founded  by  the  late  Robert  G.  Still,  in 
1895.  After  his  death  Messrs.  Hart  &  Gee  assumed 
the  management  of  it.  and  through  their  combined 
efforts  it  is  rapidly  rearing  the  goal  of  success. 

For  workmanship,  bright  and  crisp  news,  the  Sun 
day  Herald  has  no  superior.  It  was  established  by 
T.  Wallace  Swarm,  January,  1896.  The  paper  has 
struck  the  public's  vein,  and  bids  fair  to  outstrip  some 
of  the  older  journals. 

The  Christian  Banner  is  a  Baptist  paper,  and  is 
largely  circulated  throughout  the  United  States.  Rev. 
G.  L.  P.  Taliaferro  is  the  editor. 

REV.    C.    H.    PHILLIPS,    D.  D. 

Rev.  C.  H.  PbVlips  is  the  editor  of  the  Christian 


Among  Colored  People.  365 

Index,  which  is  the  official  organ  of  the  C.  M.  E. 
Church.  Their  publishing  house  is  located  at  Jack 
son,  Tenn.,  where  they  own  their  building  and  a 
splendid  printing  plant.  Dr.  Phillips  was  born  at 
Milledgeville,  Ga.,  in  1858.  He  is  a  graduate  from 
Central  Tennessee  College,  and  has  been  prominent 
since  then  both  as  teacher  and  pastor.  Rev.  Phillips 
has  made  the  Index  one  of  the  leading  church  papers 
published  in  the  country,  and  the  church  may  well 
be  proud  of  him. 

ADAMS    BROTHERS. 

Remarkable  types  in  Negro  journalism  are  Cyrus 
Field  Adams  and  John  Quincy  Adams,  of  the  Chi 
cago  Appeal.  The  Appeal  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
best  weekly  newspapers  published. 

HON.    H.    C.    SMITH. 

A  musician,  a  composer,  and  an  editor,  a  composite 
body,  is  Hon.  Harry  C.  Smith,  editor  and  publisher 
of  the  Cleveland  Gazette.  He  is  a  born  artist,  a  deep 
thinker,  liberal  and  fair-minded.  A  valuable  acquisi 
tion  to  Negro  journalism. 

HON.    JOHN    C.    DANCY. 

Hon.  John  C.  Dancy,  editor  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion 
Quarterly,  published  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  in  the 
interest  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  has  held  many 
responsible  positions  in  the  State  and  Nation.  His 
ability  as  an  editor,  and  as  an  orator,  has  already 
been  acknowledged  by  the  most  reliable  newspapers 


Evidences  of  Progress 


in  this  country.     Mr.  Dancy  is  well  known  through^ 
out  the  United  States  and    Europe.     His   career  has 


HON.    J.    C.    DANCY. 

been  remarkable,  and  his  attitude  in  defence  of  human 
rights  is  stern  and  unsympathetic. 

THE    COLORED    AMERICAN    MAGAZINE. 

That  the  Negro  is  advancing  toward  an  improved 
condition  there  is  conspicuous  proof  in  the  well- 
attended  schools  called  into  existence  by  his  demand 


Among  Colored  People. 


367 


for  enlightenment,  in  the  number  of.  blacks  found  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  and  law,  and  in  the  strength 
ened  position  of  the  race  in  financial,  commercial,  and 
industrial  affairs  of  cities  East  and  South.  But  ad- 


MISS    PAUI.INK    E.    HOPKINS. 


ditional  evidence  is  the  high  class  literature  issued  in 
the  Negro  cause.  Daily  newspapers  are  published 
for  his  entertainment  and  improvement,  and  in  Bos 
ton  there  is  the  relatively  new  "Colored  American 
Magazine,"  a  monthly  more  beautiful  in  its  typo- 


368  Evidences  of  Progress 

graphic  finish  than  most  of  its  white  rivals.  It  is  de 
voted  to  the  literature,  science,  music,  art,  religion, 
and  traditions  of  the  Negro  race,  and  fulfils  its  mis 
sion  creditably,  being  illumined  with  pleasing  illus 
trations,  and  having  for  its  purpose  the  cultivation  of 
the  best  that  the  Negro  has  in  him  and,  generally, 
the  presentation  of  the  brighter  side  of  life  to  him. 

The  Colored  Co-operative  Publishing  Company, 
publishers  of  the  magazine  consists  of  the  following 
officers:  Col.  W.  H.  Dupree,  President  Board  of 
Directors ;  Jesse  W.  Watkins,  Treasurer  ;  Wm.  O. 
West,  Secretary.  Miss  Pauline  E.  Hopkins,  a  radical 
race  woman,  is  the  literary  editor. 

REV.    I.    B.    SCOTT,    A.  M.,    D.  D. 

Rev.  I.  B.  Scott,  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  who  was  president 
of  Wiley  University  at  Marshall,  Texas,  was  at  the 
last  General  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  held  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  May,  1896,  elected  as  editor  of 
the  Southwestern  Christian  Advocate,  which  is  pub 
lished  in  the  interest  of  the  Colored  members  of  the 
M.  E,  Church. 

THE    GEORGIA    BAPTIST, 

Published  by  the  Georgia  Baptist  Printing  Co.,  Au 
gusta,  Ga.,  began  publication  in  October,  1880.  Has 
come  out  regularly  every  week.  Rev.  W.  J.  White 
has  been  editor  from  beeinnin<j,  and  also  business 

o  o ' 

manager.  The  plant  is  worth  about  $3,000,  has  one 
large  cylinder  and  two  first-class  job  presses,  employs 
the  year  round  twelve  to  eighteen  hands,  all  colored, 
and  prints  minutes  for  about  sixty  religious  bodies, 
conventions  and  associations. 


Among  Colored  People. 


369 


GEO.    L.    KNOX. 

Mr.  George  L.  Knox,  the  publisher  of  the  Freeman, 
at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  has  given  the  colored  people 
one  of  the  best  illustrated  weekly  papers  ever  issued 
in  this  country.  Mr.  Knox  is  a  hard  worker,  and 
the  Freeman  is  doing  a  most  creditable  work. 

WALTER    H.    STOWERS. 


W.    H.    STOWERS. 


Mr.    Walter  H.  Stowers  is  a  city  clerk  in  Detroit. 
24 


37^  Evidences  of  Progress 

Mich.  He  is  one  of  the  bright  minds  among  young 
colored  men.  He  is  Deputy  County  Clerk  for 
Wayne  County,  Mich.,  his  special  duty  being  clerk 
of  one  of  the  Circuit  Court  rooms.  He  has  also 
been  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  is  a  member  of  the  law 
firm  of  Barnes  &  Stovvers.  He  was  at  one  time  one 
of  the  editors  of  the  Plaindealer.  Mr.  Stowers  and 
Mr.  Wm.  Anderson  wrote  "  Appointed,"  an  American 
novel,  which  has  attracted  considerable  attention. 

MR.    CHARLES    STEWART. 

Mr.  Stewart  has  for  years  done  work  on  white 
daily  papers  as  a  regular  reporter.  At  the  last  Gen 
eral  Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  which  met 
in  Wilmington,  N.  C,  Mr.  Stewart  took  all  of  the 
conference  reports,  and  the  Wilmington  Messenger 
has  this  to  say  of  him  : 

"  The  Messenger  gave  full  and  readable  reports  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  conference,  and  we  take  this 
opportunity  to  commend  Mr.  Charles  Stewart  for  the 
excellent  and  satisfactory  manner  in  which  he  made 
the  reports  for  us.  It  was  a  laborious  piece  of  work, 
and  all  who  read  the  reports  can  testify  that  the  work 
was  efficiently  and  cleverly  done. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  began 
newspaper  work  on  the  Louisville  Courier- Journal 
in  1880.  Subsequently  he  was  engaged  by  the 
Chicago  Inter-Ocean  and  worked  as  a  reporter  on 
that  paper  from  1885  to  1892,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the  Chicago  Dis 
patch.  He  is  said  to  be  the  only  Negro  holding  such 
a  position  in  journalism. 


Among  Colored  People. 


371 


JAMES    HOLMES    MOODY. 

Mr.  James  H.  Moody  was  born  of  slave  .parents  at 
Clarksville,  Va.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
public  schools  at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  has  been  ac 
tive  in  politics,  and  has  held  some  important  posi 
tions.  While  President  Garfield  was  in  office,  Mr. 
Moody  was  appointed  a  Deputy  United  States  Mar 
shal  for  the  State  of  Kentucky.  He  was  the  first 
colored  man  appointed  to  such  a  position  in  the  State. 
After  Mr.  Cleveland  was  elected,  Mr.  Moody  came 
to  Chicago,  where  he  is  respected  by  all  who  know 
him.  He  at  one  time  had  charge  of  the  Chicago  Con- 


372  Evidences  of  Progress 


r]'  but  has  since  established  a  most  excellent 
and  useful  paper  known  as  the  Chicago  Monitor.  It 
has  a  lar^e  circulation,  and  is  doincr  much  £ood  for 

<->  o  fc> 

the  race.  Mr.  Moody  has  shown  great  courage  in 
the  manly  stand  he  has  taken  for  the  good  of  his 
people. 

I.  GARLAND  PENN. 

This  young  man  has  written  and  published  several 
books.  His  first  book,  "  The  Afro-American  Press," 
gave  short  sketches  of  the  colored  editors  and  writers. 
The  book  had  large  sale  all  over  the  country.  Mr. 
Penn  is  at  the  head  of  the  Colored  schools  of  Lynch- 
burg,  Va.,  his  native  town.  He  was  appointed  chief 
commissioner  of  the  Cotton  States  and  International 
Exposition,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  for  the  Colored  people's 
department.  He  is  a  very  young  man  to  have  accom 
plished  so  much  and  we  feel  sure  that  he  has  before 
him  a  bright  and  useful  future. 

PROF.    E.    JOHNSON. 

Prof.  E.  Johnson,  of  Raleigh,  N.  C,  now  a  teacher 
in  the  law  department  of  Shaw  University,  has  written 
the  only  school  history  now  in  use  in  Colored  schools 
which  makes  any  reference  to  what  Colored  people 
have  done.  I  feel  that  Mr.  Johnson  did  a  grand  work 
to  get  his  book  into  the  public  schools  of  North  Caro 
lina,  and  I  only  wish  such  books  could  be  in  use  in  all 
Colored  schools,  for  all  over  this  country,  Colored 
children  are  being  taught  out  of  books  which  make 
no  reference  whatever  to  what  progress  has  been 
made  by  the  race.  It  is  very  hard  to  stimulate  race 
pride  without  race  information. 


Among  Colored  People. 


373 


PROF.    H.    T.    KEALING,    B.  S.,    A.  M. 

The  present  editor  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Cl lurch  Review, 
who  takes  Dr.  Coppin's  place,  is  indeed  a  unique 
character  and  has  filled  some  important  positions 
as  an  educator  and  writer.  He  was  elected  Assistant 
Principal  of  Prairie  View  State  Normal  School  of 


PROF.    H.    T.    KEALING,    B.  S.,   A.  M. 

Texas  in  1883.  While  here  he  attracted  much  atten 
tion  throughout  the  country  by  an  impromptu  speech 
before  the  National  Educational  Association  in  To- 


374  Evidences  of  Progress 

peka,  Kan.,  which  the  New  England  Journal  of  Educa 
tion  pronounced  the  brightest  and  wittiest  piece  of  ora 
tory  in  the  whole  session.  He  contributed  in  1886 
to  The  Century  Magazine,  of  New  York,  for  which 
he  was  well  paid.  He  at  one  time  was  supervisor 
of  the  Colored  schools  in  Austin,  Tex.  The  posi 
tion  was  created  by  the  board  for  him.  I  know  of 
no  other  such  case.  For  four  years  he  was  Presi 
dent  of  Paul  Quinn  College  at  Waco,  Tex.  While 
there  he  added  several  new  features  to  its  curricu 
lum.  During  his  vacations  he  spent  his  time  in  the 
South  and  Northwest  as  a  lecturer,  and  is  now 
known  as  one  of  the  best  platform  speakers  in  the 
country  regardless  of  color.  His  lecture,  "  The 
American  Jonah,"  is  unique,  witty,  forcible,  and  a 
popular  favorite.  As  an  editor  he  has  had  some 
experience  before  and  has  been  a  regular  contributor 
to  Inter-Ocean,  N.  E.  Journal  of  Education,  Texas 
School  Journal,  Galvcston  News,  and  many  other 
leading  papers  of  the  country.  I  am  sure  the  A. 
M.  E.  Review  has  fallen  into  good  hands.  Mr. 
Kealing  was  elected  to  his  present  position  in  May, 
1896,  at  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

PAUL    L.    DUNBAR 

whose  book  of  poems  brought  forth  high  praise  from 
the  Hoosier  poet,  James  Whitcomb  Reilly.  His  book 
also  attracted  the  attention  of  William  Dean  Howell 
who  wrote  a  splendid  review  of  it  in  Harper's  Maga 
zine,  in  which  he  said,  "  Mr.  Dunbar's  poems  have 
giyen  me  a  much  higher  estimate  of  the  Negro." 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

CHURCHES. 

I  SHALL  not  attempt  to  give  a  history  of  the  various 
denominations  with  which  the  colored  people  are 
identified.  I  simply  desire  to  set  forth  a  few  facts 
which  indicate  that  they  have,  by  vigorous  efforts, 
made  the  same  wonderful  progress  along  church 
lines  that  they  have  along  educational,  industrial  and 
professional  lines. 

The  colored  people  are  represented  in  nearly  every 
denomination  known  in  the  United  States. 

The  Baptists,  Congregationalists,  Episcopalians, 
Methodists  Episcopal,  African  Methodists  Episcopal, 
African  Methodists  Episcopal  Zion,  Colored  Metho 
dists  Episcopal,  Congregational  Methodists  Episco 
pal,  the  Presbyterians,  and  other  denominations  are 
very  well  supported  by  the  colored  people,  and  the 
church  work  has  been  a  great  help  to  the  race  since 
1865. 

I  cannot  give  the  amount  of  space  to  this  phase  of 
the  so-called  Negro  problem  that  it  deserves ;  but  ir 
order  that  my  readers  may  get  some  idea  of  the 
development  of  the  race  along  religious  lines,  I  offer 
here  a  brief  sketch  of  the  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  Church, 
of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  for  this  is  a  fair  representation 
of  church  work  among  the  colored  people  throughout 
the  United  States.  And  what  is  said  of  Bethel  will 

(375) 


Evidences  of  Progress 

apply  to  all  other  denominations   in  proportion  to 
their  membership. 


BETHEL  A.  M.    E.  CHURCH. 


In  November,  1787,  the  colored  people  belonging 
to  the  Methodist  Society  of  Philadelphia  (St. 
George's)  convened  together,  in  order  to  take  into 
consideration  the  evils  under  which  thev  labored, 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  AFRICAN  METHODISM. 

growing  out  of  the  unkind  treatment  of  their  white 
brethren,  who  considered  them  a  nuisance  in  the 
house  of  worship,  and  even  pulled  them  off  their 
knees  while  in  the  act  of  prayer  and  ordered  them 
to  the  back  seats. 

For  these  and  various  other  acts  of  unchristian 
conduct,  they  considered  it  their  duty  to  devise  plans 
to  build  a  house  of  their  own,  that  they  might  wor- 


Among  Colored  People.  377 

ship  God  under  their  own   vine  and  fig-tree   unmo 
lested. 

The  causes  which  produced  Bethel  were  race 
prejudice  on  the  one  hand  and  an  innate  desire  of 
the  heart  for  religious  liberty  and  determination  on 
the  other  to  be  content  with  nothing  less  than  an 
opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  the  fullest  Christian 
manhood  in  the  house  of  God. 

Hence  the  organization  in  1787  (November)  of 
Bethel  Society,  the  oldest  colored  church  organiza 
tion  in  America.  In  1793,  Richard  Allen,  a  preacher 
and  leading  spirit  among  his  brethren,  proposed  the 
erection  of  a  house  of  worship  on  his  own  ground, 
at  his  own  expense,  which  being  acceded  to  by  his 
brethren,  the  first  church  edifice  was  erected  on 
the  present  site  of  Bethel,  Sixth  street  below  Pine, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  which  house  of  worship  was  duly 
consecrated  and  opened  for  divine  service  by  Francis 
Asbury,  the  then  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  at  the  invitation  of  Richard  Allen.  And 
the  house  was  named  Bethel  notwithstanding  the 
severest  persecutions  at  the  hands  of  their  white 
brethren  for  a  number  of  years.  Bethel  continued 
to  grow  in  usefulness  and  influence,  both  locally  and 
generally.  So  that  in  the  year  1816  the  spirit  of 
Allen  and  his  coadjutors  had  become  so  powerful 
that  the  hour  was  ripe  for  the  organization  of  a  con 
nection  to  carry  on  the  work  everywhere  so  well 
begun  by  Bethel  in  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  Richard  Allen  now  became  to  the  connection 
what  he  had  been  for  twenty-five  years  to  Bethel—* 


37 8  Evidences  of  Progress 

the  acknowledged  and  honored  leader,  as  the  first 
Bishop  of  the  connection,  Bethel  remaining  the 
pivotal  centre,  around  which  the  spirit  of  religious 
liberty  and  Christian  manhood  revolved  ;  ever  ex 
tending  its  influence  until,  like  in  the  family,  all  over 
the  connection  it  came  to  be  known  and  called  by 
the  endearing  name  of  "  Mother  Bethel." 


RICHARD  ALLEN. 


This  first  Bethel  served  to  meet  the  demands  of 
the  growing  congregation  up  to  1841,  when  it  was 
found  expedient  to  rebuild,  and  June  2,  1841,  the 
corner-stone  of  the  Second  Bethel  Church  was  for 
mally  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies  by  Rt.  Rev. 
Morris  Brown,  the  acting  Bishop,  Bishop  Allen 


Colored  People. 


379 


having  died  in  1831.  This  church  was  completed  in 
the  following  year  at  a  cost  of  $14,000,  the  first 
church  having  been  valued  at  about  $10,000. 


BETHEL   A.    M.    E.    CHURCH,    PHILADELPHIA,    PA. 

Projected  and  Built  under  the  Pastorate  of  Rev.  C.   T. 
Shaffer,  M.  D.,  D.  D. 

A  most  remarkable  feature  of  this  church  has 
been,  that  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Union,  Little 
Wesley  (now  Murray  Chapel),  Zion  Chapel,  and  finally 
Allen  Chapel,  were  all  colonies  from  this  church, 
all  of  which  are  now  flourishing  organizations, 


3^°  Evidences  of  Progress 

Bethel  has  maintained  such  a  hold  on  the  community 
as  to  carry  a  congregation  commensurate  with  the 
capacity  of  the  building,  through  the  century  of  her 
history,  and  for  more  than  half  a  century  sustained 
a  membership  ranging  from  1,500  to  1,600  strong. 

For  some  years  the  congregation,  and  especially 
the  more  advanced  thinkers,  had  felt  the  necessity  of 
a  new  church,  the  old  one  being  both  unsightly 
and  unsafe,  though  no  practical  efforts  had  been 
put  forth  in  that  direction  until  1889. 

The  Rev.  C.  T.  Shaffer,  M.  D.,  was  appointed  to 
the  pastorate  of  Bethel,  May,  1888.  He  at  once  set 
about  unifying  and  organizing,  for  the  purpose  of 
rebuilding.  He  soon  had  plans  laid,  the  church  in 
spired  with  larger  hope,  so  that  the  people  had  a 
mind  to  work.  And,  during  his  first  year,  had  struck  a 
blow  for  the  new  Bethel  by  conducting  a  rally,  the 
money  being  banked  for  the  building. 

On  his  return  from  Conference,  and  entering  his 
second  year,  on  the  first  Sunday  of  June,  he  held 
another  rally,  the  last  service  in  the  old  Bethel.  The 
next  Sabbath  worship  was  held  in  Horticultural  Hall, 
on  Broad  street,  adjoining  the  Academy  of  Music. 
The  old  Bethel  was  torn  down,  and,  on  August  8,  1889, 
at  9:15  A.  M.,  ground  was  broken  for  the  new  build 
ing,  excavations  made,  and  on  November  7,  1889, 
the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Bethel  was  laid,  with 
imposing  ceremonies,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  H.  M.  Turner, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  assisted  by  the  pastor,  C.  T.  Shaffer, 
D.  D.,  and  associate  pastors  of  the  city  and  vicinity, 
from  which  time  there  was  hardly  a  day  lost  by  the. 


Among-  Colored  People.  381 

workmen  until  the  church  was  completed,  which  was 


m 


REV.    C.   T.    SHAFFER,    M.  D.,  D.  D. 


done    and    formally    dedicated    to    the    worship    of 
Almighty  God,  October  23,  1890,  and  a  congregation 


382  Evidences  of  Progress 

equal  to  the  capacity  of  the  new  Bethel  returned  to 
continue  the  worship  of  God  on  this  sacred  spot 
which  they  have  held  in  undisputed  possession  for 
one  hundred  and  three  years  as  a  church  site,  and  the 
first  piece  of  ground  ever  bought,  and  now  held  for 
church  purposes,  by  colored  people  in  the  United 
States,  and  on  which  three  churches  have  been 
erected  by  the  congregation:  the  first  in  1793;  the 
second  in  1841-2;  and  the  third  in  1889-90.  This 
building  is  heated  throughout  with  steam,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  completely  modern  in  all  its  appointments, 
solid  and  massive  in  construction,  of  this  great  city 
of  churches,  and  has  not  a  superior  in  the  whole 
connection  of  which  it  is  the  mother. 

The  cost  of  this  building  was  about  $50,000  and  it 
is  valued  to-day  at  $85,000. 

The  Revs.  W.  H.  Heard,  D.  D..  Consul  General  to 
Liberia,  and  W.  D.  Cook,  D.  D.,  have  served  with 
marked  success  as  pastors  since  the  erection  of  the 
New  Bethel,  and  the  Rev.  Theo.  Gould,  who  served 
this  church  very  successfully  twenty  years  ago,  is  its 
present  pastor. 

The  connection  of  which  this  church  is  the  mother 
has  fourteen  Bishops,  eleven  general  secretaries  of  de 
partments,  4,365  itinerants,  and  15,885  local  preach 
ers,  full  membership,  543,604,  probationers,  35,287; 
total  membership,  599,141.  Church  edifices,  4,575, 
valuation,  $8,650,155;  parsonages,  1,650,  value, 
$75,950;  schools,  colleges  and  universities,  41,  value 
of  buildings  and  grounds,  $756,475  ;  grand  total 
valuation  of  property,  $9,482,580. 


Among  Colored  People.  383 

What  hath  God  not  wrought ! 

Is  not  this  the  fulfilment  of  that  prophecy,  "And 
Ethiopia  shall  stretch  forth  her  hand  unto  God?  " 

Verily  it  would  seem  so. 

Dr.  C  T.  Shaffer,  the  builder  of  Bethel  Church, 
has  a  very  interesting  history.  I  am  only  sorry  that 
space  will  not  admit  of  a  full  account  of  his  life. 
He  is  a  splendid  type  of  manhood  that  shows  what 
can  be  done  by  push  and  energy.  Dr.  Shaffer  is  a 
native  of  Ohio ;  in  his  younger  days  he  learned  and 
worked  at  the  plastering  trade  and  in  that  way  earned 
money  enough  to  educate  himself  and  a  younger 
sister.  He  graduated  at  Berea  College.  He  also 
had  the  honor  of  serving  his  country  as  a  soldier  in 
our  late  war.  As  a  pastor,  he  has  held  the  largest 
and  best  appointments  in  the  connection.  While  he 
was  pastor  of  different  churches  in  Philadelphia,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  and  read  medicine, 
graduating  with  honor  in  a  class  of  208  in  1888  from 
the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Phila.  He  has 
never  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
although  it  would  pay  him  far  better  than  church 
work,  but  he  feels  called  upon  to  serve  his  church. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  general  corresponding 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  church  extension 
department.  This  department  of  church  work  he 
created  and  has  been  twice  elected  to  fill  his  present 
position. 

Before  closing  this  chapter  I  wish  to  mention  the 
names  of  the  general  officers  of  the  A.  M.  E., 
Church,  in  order  that  my  readers  who  may  not  be 
familiar  with  the  great  work  of  the  "  African  Metho- 


384  Evidences  of  Progress 

dist  Episcopal  Church"  may  form  some  idea  what  a 
work  is  being  done,  also  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
men  who  stand  at  the  head  of  the  connection.  I 
only  wish  I  had  the  space  to  give  a  short  history  of 
each  of  the  men  whose  names  will  be  mentioned. 
To  begin  with,  the  church  has  fourteen  Bishops,  who 
are  all  able  men,  and  we  head  our  list  with  the 
senior  Bishop,  H.  M.  Turner,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  who  is 
a  native  of  South  Carolina.  He  was  never  a  slave.  I 
regard  Bishop  Turner  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
men  I  have  ever  met.  He  was  the  first  colored  man 
appointed  a  commissioned  officer  by  President 
Lincoln,  his  appointment  was  as  Chaplain  of  the 
First  United  States  Infantry  during  the  late  war. 
When  mustered  out  he  was  recommissioned  a  Chaplain 
in  the  regular  service  of  the  United  States  Army  by 
President  Johnson.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Georgia  Constitutional  Convention,  and  has  served 
two  terms  as  a  member  of  the  Georgia  Legislature, 
was  twice  appointed  to  positions  of  honor  by  Presi 
dent  Grant.  He  now  represents  the  Liberian  Gov 
ernment  in  the  United  States.  He  at  one  time  was 
the  manager  of  the  publishing  department  of  the 
A.  M.  E.  Church,  and  was  consecrated  a  Bishop  in 
1880.  So  it  is  very  easy  to  see  that  Bishop  Turner 
has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life.  I  have  been  person 
ally  acquainted  with  the  Bishop  for  years,  and  I  am 
only  one  of  thousands  who  know  him  to  love  him. 
In  the  State  of  Georgia,  where  Bishop  Turner 
resides,  I  found  him  very  much  thought  of  by  the 
leading  white  people. 


Among  Colored  People.  385 

Bishop  W.  J.  Gaines,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of  Georgia  and 
at  one  time  was  owned  by  that  famous  Toombs  family. 
His  first  work  in  the  church  was  in  a  very  humble 
way,  that  of  member.  As  a  preacher  he  did  a  great 
deal  for  the  church  in  Georgia.  He  wrote  a  book 
on  African  Methodism  in  the  South  that  was  both 
interesting  and  useful.  It  was  through  the  efforts  of 
Bishop  Gaines  that  Morris  Brown  College  was  estab 
lished  at  Atlanta.  He  was  elected  as  Bishop  in  1888, 

Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett,  D.  D.,  is  a  native  of  Penn 
sylvania  and  is  entirely  a  self-made  man.  He,  like 
Bishop  Turner,  has  held  some  high  positions  of 
honor.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
Legislature  and  while  serving  his  district  in  that 
capacity  he  introduced  a  bill,  known  as  the  Arnett 
Bill,  that  wiped  out  the  old  and  infamous  black  laws 
that  were  a  disgrace  to  the  State  of  Ohio.  Just 
before  he  was  elected  Bishop  in  1888,  he  served  the 
church  as  financial  secretary.  He  is  the  father  of 
several  very  intelligent  sons.  Is  also  very  active  in 
Christian  Endeavor  work. 

Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner,  D.  D.,  is  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  began  life  as  a  barber,  and  has 
held  every  position  from  lay  member  up  to  the 
Bishopric.  He  was  editor  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Review, 
and  at  one  time  editor  of  the  Recorder,  the  church 
organ.  Bishop  Tanner  was  elected  in  1888  as 
Bishop.  Few  men  in  this  country  have  been  harder 
students  than  Bishop  Tanner  ;  he  has  a  magnificent 
library,  and  one  can  see  at  once  that  he  has  taken 
25 


386  Evidences  of  Progress 

advantage  of  his  fine  collection  of  books,  and  is 
regarded  by  the  connection  a  very  able  man. 
-  Bishop  A.  Grant,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of  Florida  and  was 
born  a  slave  and,  what  makes  this  man  more  remark 
able,  was  born  in  an  ox-cart,  while  his  poor  mother 
was  being  taken  from  one  plantation  to  another 
where  she  had  been  sold.  Some  men  are  bor.n  to 
lead  others,  and  it  would  seem  that  Bishop  Grant 
was  one  of  them.  I  have  never  met  any  man  who 
had  such  a  magnetic  influence  over  his  hearers.  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  being  present  at  the  A.  M.  E. 
Missionary  Jubilee  held  at  Ocean  Grove,  July  24th, 
1896,  when  the  Bishop  presided,  and  his  address  to 
the  thousands  who  heard  it  was  a  gem.  He  was 
elected  Bishop  in  1888. 

Bishop  M.  B.  Salter,  D.D.,  was  elected  to  the  Bishop 
ric  in  1892.  He  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  he 
too  was  born  a  slave.  His  owner  was  a  watch 
maker,  and  he  taught  the  trade  to  Mr.  Salter  when 
he  was  a  young  man ;  that  of  course  made  him  a 
valuable  piece  of  property.  And  when  freedom 
came  it  was  a  great  blessing  to  Mr.  Salter  to  have  a 
trade.  Bishop  Salter  grew  in  the  church  from  the 
walks  of  a  member  up  to  the  Bishopric,  and  is  much 
loved  by  men  under  him. 

Bishop  Jas.  A.  Handy,  D.  D.,  was  elected  Bishop 
in  1892.  He  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  I  am  told 
never  had  any  schooling  except  what  he  got  in  night 
school.  He  is  regarded  as  a  very  able  man,  and  is 
a  great  lover  of  education.  He  at  one  time  repre 
sented  the  church  as  its  financial  secretary,  and  when 


Among  Colored  People.  387 

in  the  ministry  was  pastor  of  some  of  the  largest 
churches  in  the  connection. 

Bishop  B.  F.  Lee,  D.  D.,  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 
He  went  when  a  young  man  to  Wilberforce  Univer 
sity,  Ohio,  to  obtain  an  education,  but  being  poor,  he 
had  to  work  his  way  through.  In  thirteen  years 
from  the  time  he  went  there  as  a  student  he  was 
elected  President  of  the  University.  He  was  for 
quite  a  number  of  years  editor  of  the  Christian 
Recorder.  Bishop  Lee  was  made  a  Bishop  in  1892 
and  I  am  sure  the  church  never  did  a  better  thing 
for  its  interest  than  to  elect  him.  He  is  not  only  a 
Christian,  but  a  magnificent  scholar. 

Bishop  J.  C.  Embry,  D.  D.,  who  was  elected  as  Bis 
hop  in  1896,  was  one  of  the  most  profound  scholars  in 
the  church.  For  twelve  years  he  managed  the  A. 
M.  E.  Book  Concern  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  only 
lived  about  two  years  after  his  election. 

Bishop  J.  H.  Armstrong,  D.  D.,  was  elected  as 
Bishop  in  1896.  For  four  years  he  had  filled  the 
office  of  financial  secretary  with  great  credit  to  him 
self.  He  lived  about  three  years  after  his  election. 

Bishop  W.  B.  Derrick,  D.  D.,  was  elected  Bishop 
in  1896  by  a  very  large  vote.  For  eight  years  he 
had  been  secretary  of  Missions.  Dr.  Derrick  was 
known  far  and  wide  as  a  powerful  orator,  and  has 
been  associated  in  great  meetings  with  some  of  our 
greatest  white  leaders.  I  give  here  a  beautiful  trib 
ute  he  paid  to  the  American  flag,  on  one  occasion. 

"The  American  flag  has  been  washed,  and 
cleansed  from  the  foul  stain  of  Negro  slavery  until 


388  Evidences  of  Progress 

it  is  to-day  among  the  most  beautiful  of  national 
emblems.  The  stars  represent  the  stars  of  heaven; 
the  blue  the  sky;  the  white  a  higher  Christian  civili 
zation;  the  red  the  blood  of  the  various  nationalities 
who  fought  to  make  the  principles  of  the  Republic 
more  lofty  and  enduring.  It  is  our  purpose  to  con 
tinue  agitating  until  beneath  its  silken  folds  shall 
stand  as  equals  before  the  law  the  inventive  German, 
the  wily  and  industrious  Irishman,  the  trafficking 
and  cunning  Jew,  the  musical  and  wandering  Italian, 
the  polite  Frenchman,  the  hospitable  and  tenacious 
Englishman,  the  granite-minded  and  scholarly  Scotch 
man,  the  pagan  Chinese,  the  unconquered  Indian, 
and  last,  but  not  least,  the  industrious,  kind-hearted 
and  forgiving  Negro." 

Bishop  Evans  Tyree,  D.  D.,  was  elected  as  Bishop 
in  1900.  He  was  born  Aug.  19,  1854,  of  slave 
parents,  and  was  twice  sold  as  a  slave.  His  educa 
tion  was  received  at  Central  Tennessee  College. 
Bishop  Tyree  never  held  a  general  office  before  his 
election  as  Bishop.  He  received  a  very  large  vote — 
in  fact  the  largest  ever  given  any  one  man. 

Bishop  M.  M.  Moore,  D.  D.,  was  elected  to  the 
bishopric  in  1900.  For  four  years  he  had  served  the 
church  as  financial  secretary.  He  was  a  native  of 
Georgia.  He  was  elected  Bishop  in  May,  1900,  and 
died  in  November  of  the  same  year. 

Bishop  Charles  S.  Smith,  D.  D.,  who  is  a  native  of 
Canada,  was  elected  as  Bishop  in  1900.  He  was  for 
seventeen  years  manager  of  the  Sunday-School 
Union,  a  department  of  church  work  he  created. 


Among  Colored  People.  389 

As  a  scholar  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  in  this 
connection. 

Bishop  C.  T.  Shaffer,  M.  D.,  D.  D.,  was  elected  as 
Bishop  in  1900.  He  had  been  for  eight  years  secre 
tary  of  the  church  extension  department.  Splendid 
mention  of  Bishop  Shaffer  will  be  found  on  page 
383  of  this  book. 

Bishop  L.  J.  Coppin,  D.  D.,  who  was  for  eight 
years  editor  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  Review,  was 
elected  as  Bishop  in  1900.  Mention  of  his  life  and 
work  can  be  found  on  page  359  of  this  book. 

Rev.  H.  B.  Parks,  who  is  a  very  able  man  and  was 
for  years  a  prominent  pastor,  is  now  secretary  of 
the  missionary  department. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Collett,  D.  D.,  is  now  business  man 
ager  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Publishing  House,  631  Pine 
Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Rev.  E.  W.  Lampton  is  secretary  of  the  financial 
department  of  the  church  located  at  Washington, 
D.  C. 

Prof.  John  R.  Hawkins,  A.  M.,  secretary  of  edu 
cation,  is  mentioned  on  page  132  of  this  book. 

Rev.  W.  D.  Chappelle,  D.  D.,  of  South  Carolina, 
is  secretary  of  the  Sunday-School  Union,  at  Nashville, 
Tenn. 

Rev.  H.  T.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  editor  of  the 
Chistian  Recorder,  is  mentioned  on  page  356. 

Prof.  H.  T.  Kealing,  editor  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church 
Review i  is  mentioned  on  page  373. 

Rev.  G.  E.  Taylor  is  editor  of  the  Southern  Chris 
tian  Record,  located  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 


3QO  Evidences  of  Progress 

Rev.  John  T.  Jenifer,  D.  D.,  is  Secretary  of  the 
Preachers'  Aid  Society,  located  at  Baltimore,  Md.  I 
regret  that,  for  want  of  space,  I  am  not  able  to  give 
a  more  extensive  account  of  the  general  officers,  who 
are  all  worthy  men,  and  most  of  them  have  been 
prominent  pastors,  holding  charge  of  some  of  the 
largest  churches  in  the  connection. 

The  next  largest  body  of  Methodists  among  Col 
ored  people  is  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  which  is 
organized  on  the  same  principle  as  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  with  an  able  force  of  Bishops.  They  also 
have  a  publishing  department,  located  at  Char 
lotte,  N.  C 

Bishop  J.  W.  Hood,  D.  D.,  stands  as  the  lead 
ing  spirit  of  the  Zion  connection.  He  has  done  a 
great  work  for  the  church  and  the  race  at  large.  He 
is  the  author  of  two  books,  in  the  way  of  a  book  of 
Sermons  and  a  history  of  the  Zion  Church. 

Bishop  C.  R.  Harris,  D.  D.,  is  a  graduate  and  was, 
before  his  election  to  the  Bishopric,  connected  with 
educational  work  at  Livingstone  College,  also  gen 
eral  steward  of  the  Zion  Church. 

Bishop  C.  C.  Petty,  D.  D.,  is  also  a  graduate  and 
before  he  was  made  Bishop  was  one  of  the  leading 
pastors. 

Bishop  I.  C.  Clinton,  of  South  Carolina,  has  been 
one  of  the  most  useful  men  in  the  connection  as 
a  church  builder  and  organizer. 

Bishop  A.  Walters,  D.  D.,  was,  when  elected,  the 
youngest  Bishop  in  the  country.  He  is  a  very 


Among  Colored  People.  391 

energetic  and  hard  worker  for  the  cause  of  his 
Church. 

Bishop  T.  H.  Lomax,  of  N.  C,  is  also  known  as  a 
church  builder.  At  their  last  General  Conference  at 
Mobile,  Ala.,  in  May,  1896,  they  elected  three  new 
Bishops  in  the  persons  of  Rev.  George  W.  Clinton, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  B.  Small,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  J.  Holliday. 

Rev.  Clinton  I  have  known  for  years,  and  I 
regard  him  by  far  one  of  the  ablest  men  in  the  con 
nection,  both  as  a  speaker  and  writer. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Small  is  one  of  the  best  scholars  in  the 
country,  and  should  have  been  a  Bishop  long  ago. 

William  Howard  Day,  who  is  mentioned  in  another 
part  of  my  book,  is  their  financial  secretary,  and  Rev. 
J.  W.  Smith,  also  mentioned,  is  editor  of  the  Star 
of  Zion. 

Bishop  J.  W.  Alstork  was  elected  as  Bishop  at  the 
last  General  Conference,  held  by  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion 
Church  in  1900,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Rev.  Alstork 
is  regarded  an  able  man. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE    FREDERICK    DOUGLASS    MEMORIAL    HOSPITAL     AND 
TRAINING    SCHOOL. 

THE  Frederick  Douglass  Memorial  Hospital  and 
Training  School  was  organized  during  the  month  of 
July,  1895,  through  the  earnest  effort  of  Dr.  N.  F 
Mossell.  Its  purpose  is  to  give  larger  opportunities 
for  the  training  of  colored  girls  as  nurses,  this  class 
of  learners  in  this  profession  being  to  a  large  extent 
excluded  from  the  other  training  schools  in  Phila 
delphia.  Girls  of  no  race  will  be  debarred  from  the 
course  of  training  offered  in  this  hospital.  This  in 
stitution  is  open  to  all  without  regard  to  race  or 
creed. 

The  building  is  located  at  1512  Lombard  street. 
The  money  necessary  to  equip  and  furnish  the  building 
has  been  raised  through  the  efforts  of  the  management 
and  four  lady  auxiliaries.  The  special  need  of  the  work 
at  the  present  time  is  support  for  free  beds.  The  hos 
pital  has  been  in  operation  four  months,  and  its  suc 
cess  up  to  the  present  date  (April,  1896)  shows  both 
the  feasibility  and  necessity  for  its  establishment.  The 
class  of  nurses  in  training  are  progressing  in  efficiency. 
There  have  been  admitted  a  number  of  cases  that 
have  been  successfully  treated. 

The  wards  are  light  and  airy,  and  are  equipped 
with  the  most  recent  appliances  for  hospital  work; 
(392) 


Frederick  Douglass  Memorial  Hospital  and  Training  School. 

393 


394  Evidences  of  Progress 

they  are  entirely  aseptic,  the  furniture  consisting  of 
enamelled  iron  and  glass ;  the  walls  and  floors  have 
been  properly  treated  to  preserve  this  condition,  the 
operating  room  is  a  perfect  gem.  The  out-patient 
department  is  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  various 
clinics.  The  drainage,  plumbing  and  ventilation  are 
of  the  best.  One  fact  worthy  of  notice  is  the  hearty 
co-operation  in  the  work  shown  by  both  the  best 
elements  of  colored  and  white  citizens,  through  con 
tributions  and  subscriptions,  also  by  the  patronage 
of  all  entertainments  given  for  the  benefit  of  the  hos 
pital.  Desiring  to  receive  patients  from  all  parts  of 
the  country,  the  management  feel  that,  as  the  work  is 
not  localized,  the  support  should  not  be,  and  in  many 
cases  friends  at  a  distance  have  shown  their  kindly 
interest  by  liberal  donations.  As  the  hospital  stands, 
it  offers  a  notable  proof  of  self-reliance  and  self- 
sacrificing  devotion. 

Mr.  Jacob  C.  White,  the  able  principal  of  the 
Robert  Vaux  School,  is  President  of  the  Board  of 
Management ;  Mr.  S.  J.  M.  Brock,  Vice-president ; 
Mr.  Henry  M.  Minton,  Secretary  ;  S.  B.  Henry,  Esq., 
Treasurer;  N.  F.  Mossell,  M.  D.,  Chief  of  Staff;  Miss 
Minnie  M.  Clemens,  Head  Nurse  and  Matron ;  A.  A. 
Mossell,  Esq.,  Solicitor. 

Medical  Staff — Consulting  Surgeons :  John  B. 
Deaver,  M.  D.,  Thos.  S.  K.  Morton,  M.  D. ;  Consult 
ing  Physicians :  James  Tyson,  M.  D.,  Roland  G. 
Curtin,  M.  D. ;  Consulting  Gynecologists  :  B.  F.  Baer, 
M.  D.,  Hannah  T.  Croasdale,  M.  D. ;  Attending  Sur 
geons  :  J.  P.  Tunis,  M.  D.,  N.  F.  Mossell,  M.  D, ; 


Among"  Colored  People.  395 

Attending  Physicians:  E.  C.  Howard,  M.  D.,  Wm.  H. 
Warrick,  M.  D.,  James  T.  Potter,  M.  D. ;  Attending 
Gynecologists  :  Caroline  V.  Anderson,  M.  D.,  Theo. 
A.  Erck,  M.  D. ;  Assistants  :  George  R.  Hilton,  M.  D., 
D.  W.  Ogden,  M.  D. ;  Ophthalmogist,  H.  F.  Han- 
sell,  M.  D. ;  Pathologist,  A.  A.  Stevens,  M.  D.  ; 
Dermatologist,  J.  Abbott  Cantrell,  M.  D. ;  Dental 
Surgeon,  Wm.  A.  Jackson,  D.  D.  S.  ;  Pharmacist, 
Henry  M.  Minton,  Ph.  G. 

The  first  benefit  for  the  hospital  was  given  February 
26,  1896,  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  Philadelphia,  with 
the  "  Black  Patti  "  as  the  star.  The  ticket-selling  on 
this  occasion  broke  the  record  for  concerts  given  at 
the  Academy.  Amount  raised,  over  $3,000;  amount 
cleared,  $  1, 600.  This  institution  is  without  doubt  the 
greatest  memorial  yet  established  in  honor  of  that 
great  friend  of  humanity,  Frederick  Douglass. 

NATHAN    F.    MOSSELL,  A.M.,  M.  D. 

Dr.  N.  F.  Mossell,  of  Philadelphia,  was  born  in 
Hamilton,  Canada,  in  July,  1856.  He  entered  Lin 
coln  University  in  1874,  graduating  in  1879  with 
honor,  delivering  the  philosophical  oration  and  re 
ceiving  the  Bradley  medal  for  excellence  in  physical 
sciences.  In  the  fall  of  1879  he  entered  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  being 
the  first  colored  student  to  enter  that  department  of 
the  University.  And  after  bearing  the  taunts  and 
scoffs  of  his  fellow-students  during  the  first  year, 
he  won  their  confidence  and  respect  and  at  gradua 
tion  was  photographed  with  his  class.  His  grade 


39^  Evidences  of  Progress 

was  sufficient  at  graduation  to  call  forth  the  following 
comment  from  Dr.  James  Tyson,  Secretary  of  the 
Faculty,  and  the  same  appeared  in  the  Medical  News 
of  May  20,  1882. 

"  Dr.    Mossell    had    graduated    with    an   average 


N.   F.    MOSSELL,  A.  M.,  M.  D. 


higher  than  three-fourths  of  his   class  " — the    com 
ment  being  called  forth  during  a  discussion  as  to  the 
necessity  for  separate  colleges   for  colored  students. 
He  was  the  first  colored  member  admitted  to  the 


Among  Colored  Peoph.  397 

Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society,  February, 
1888.  He  has  for  a  number  of  years  secured  sup 
port  for  from  one  to  two  students  in  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University.  The  appointment  of 
Mrs.  Minnie  Hogan,  the  first  and  only  colored 
graduate  of  the  University  Hospital,  was  secured  by 
Dr.  Mossell.  Since  his  graduation  he  has  built  up 
a  lucrative  practice. 

He  has  systematized  the  beneficial  departments 
of  the  various  secret  orders  of  which  he  is  a  member. 

He  is  deservedly  one  of  the  most  popular  men 
among  his  race  in  the  city.  His  watchword,  enun 
ciated  in  one  of  his  addresses,  while  yet  a  stripling 
student  in  the  college,  was  then  and  is  yet,  "  He  who 
spares  his  toil  spares  his  honor." 

J.    C.    WHITE,  JR. 

Mr.  Jacob  C.  White,  the  president  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Frederick  Douglass  Memorial 
Hospital  and  Training  School,  is  better  known  to 
the  colored  people  of  Philadelphia  as  the  "  pioneer 
educator." 

From  the  year  of  his  graduation  from  the  Insti 
tute  for  Colored  Youth,  in  1856,  Jacob  C.  White,  Jr., 
has  been  continuously  engaged  as  a  school  teacher, 
his  nearly  forty  years  of  service  having  been  spent 
in  two  schools.  For  thirty  years  he  has  been  priir 
cipal  of  the  Robert  Vaux  School,  and  in  that  posi 
tion  has  won  the  highest  esteem  of  all  connected 
with  public  school  work. 

Mr.  White  comes  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best- 


Evidences  of  Progress 

known  colored  families  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
maternal  great  grandfather,  one  of  the  Bustil  family, 
which  intermarried  with  Lenni  Lenape  Indians,  was 
a  baker  in  Washington's  army.  His  grandparents 


J.    C.    WHITE. 


were  all  Philadelphians,  and  his  father  was  secretary 
of  the  very  first  organized  society  of  the  famous 
*  Underground  Railroad,"  which  aided  slaves  to 
escape  to  Canada.  Robert  Purvis  was  president  of 


Among  Colored  People.  399 

the  organization.  As  a  lad  young  Jacob  assisted  in 
caring  for  the  fugitives,  who  came  here  in  a  wretched 
condition,  and  he  tells  many  an  interesting  story  of 
those  who  sought  escape  from  slavery,  a  score  of 
whom  would  be  hidden  at  one  time  in  the  garret  of 
his  father's  house. 

Mr.  White  has  always  been  actively  identi 
fied  with  movements  for  the  betterment  of  the 
colored  people.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Teachers' 
Institute,  Annuity  and  Aid  Association,  Educational 
Club  and  the  Teachers'  Beneficial  Association. 

DANIEL    H.    WILLIAMS,    M.  D. 

Dr.  Daniel  H.  Williams,  one  of  the  best  physi 
cians  in  this  country,  white  or  colored,  of  Chicago, 
111.,  now  of  Washington,  D.  C,  was  born  January 
18,  1858,  at  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.  He  attended  the 
Janesville,  Wis.,  High  School,  and  was  graduated 
from  Janesville  Classical  Academy  in  1878.  Com 
menced  the  study  of  medicine  at  Janesville  in  1880, 
under  Surgeon-General  Henry  Palmer;  attended 
three  courses  of  lectures  at  Chicago  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  March  28,  1883,  his 
education  having  been  obtained  through  his  own 
exertions,  his  parents  being  unable  to  render  finan 
cial  assistance.  In  May,  1883,  he  located  per 
manently  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Chicago. 

Dr.  Williams  is  a  member  of  the  American  Medi 
cal  Association ;  Illinois  State  Medical  Society ; 
Chicago  Medical  Society;  Ninth  International  Medi 
cal  Congress.  He  was  a  surgeon  to  South  Side 


4-OO  Evidences  of  Progress 

Dispensary,  Chicago,  1884-92  ;  surgeon  to  Provi 
dent  Hospital,  1890-93;  physician  to  Protestant 
Orphan  Asylum,  1884-93;  member  of  Illinois 
State  Board  of  Health,  1889;  reappointed  in  1891. 


DANIEL   H.    WILLIAMS,  M.  D. 


He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club,  of 
Chicago.  Was  appointed  surgeon  in  charge  to  the 
Freedmen's  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C,  February 
15.  1894. 


Among  Colored  People.  401 


THE    PROVIDENT    HOSPITAL. 

Provident  Hospital,  Chicago,  was  instituted  in 
January,  1891,  by  a  few  gentlemen  of  that  city, 
who  saw  the  need  of  an  opening  for  colored  physi- 
cians,  as  well  as  for  colored  women.  At  that  time 
there  was  not  a  hospital  in  the  United  States  that 
admitted  colored  men  as  resident  physicians  or 
internes.  There  was  no  place,  in  fact,  that  a  colored 
man  could  get  a  good  practical  experience  so  neces 
sary  for  the  proper  equipment  of  the  young  men  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  ;  as  well  to  colored 
women,  there  were  no  institutions  where  they  could 
be  admitted  into  the  higher  scientific  work  of  nurs 
ing.  There  may  have  been  one  or  two  exceptions 
in  which  persons  of  very  light  color,  who  could  not 
possibly  be  detected,  were  admitted  into  one  or  two 
of  the  Eastern  institutions  for  the  higher  education 
of  women  as  nurses. 

Each  year,  Provident  Hospital  has  graduated  a 
class  of  ladies  who  have  scattered  themselves  through 
out  the  United  States  ;  and  in  every  instance  they 
are  succeeding  and  doing  commendable  work,  demon 
strating  at  once  the  necessity  of  opening  a  field  of 
usefulness  to  colored  women  who  are  debarred  from 
every  avenue  of  employment  on  account  of  color. 

Provident  Hospital,  since  its  inception,  has  been 
blessed  in  having  as  its  supporters  sincere  and  honest 
helpers,  white  and  colored,  in  Chicago.  It  has  done, 
already,  a  good  work,  and  is  on  the  road  to  prosperity. 
In  March,  1896,  ground  was  broken  for  the  erection 
26 


Evidences  of  Progress 

of  a  new  building,  the  like  of  which  will  not  be  seen 
anywhere  in  the  West.  Fifty  thousand  dollars  has 
been  donated  by  a  philanthropic  gentleman,  in 
Chicago,  for  the  erection  of  the  building,  his  only 
request  being  that  his  name  be  not  mentioned.  This 
building  is  to  be  erected  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
city,  and  with  all  the  modern  improvements.  Another 
gentleman,  Mr.  H.  H.  Kohlsaat,  one  of  the  persistent 
and  faithful  friends  of  the  colored  people  in  this 
country,  gave  the  ground  on  which  the  building  is 
to  be  erected.  Mr.  George  H.  Webster,  the  partner 
of  Mr.  Armour,  of  Chicago,  and  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  is  a  sincere  and  sympathetic 
friend  of  the  colored  people  in  their  efforts  to  upbuild 
and  maintain  Provident  Hospital.  The  gentlemen 
composing  the  Board  of  Trustees,  a  mixed  board  of 
Chicago's  prominent  citizens,  are  untiring  in  their 
endeavors  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  institution. 

THE  FREEDMEN'S  HOSPITAL. 

Within  the  past  eighteen  months,  Freedmen's  Hos 
pital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  has  been  entirely  reorgan 
ized.  In  the  fall  of  1894  the  reorganization  began 
by  instituting  a  training  school  for  nurses.  A  com 
petent  superintendent  was  had,  and  reorganization, 
reform  and  improvement  went  hand  in  hand  until  the 
present  time.  Now,  there  is  a  training  school  of 
forty  nurses,  all  colored,  selected  from  hundreds  of 
applicants  and  from  every  State  in  the  Union.  The 
work  of  the  training  school  is  commended  by  every 
one  who  takes  the  trouble  to  study  it.  Marked 


Among  Colored  People.  4°3 

change  in  every  department  of  the  institution  was 
manifested  by  the  advent  of  these  intelligent  women, 
who  brought  new  life  and  a  new  future  to  the  hos 
pital.  Instead  of  remaining  a  political  institution,  it 
was  converted,  at  once,  into  a  scientific  institution  for 
the  education  and  upbuilding  of  the  more  progressive 
members  who  have  selected  this  as  their  life-work. 
You  cannot  overestimate  the  good  that  will  come 
from  the  education  of  the  young  men  and  women  in 
this  institution. 

In  connection  with  other  features,  a  corps  of 
internes  has  been  added.  These  are  young  graduates 
of  medical  colleges  who  are  giving  a  service  of  twelve 
months  of  practical  work  in  the  several  departments 
of  the  hospital.  At  the  expiration  of  this  service, 
they  receive  certificates  which  commend  them  at 
once  to  the  people  in  the  communities  in  which  they 
are  to  reside. 

In  keeping  with  other  lines  of  progress,  an  ambu 
lance,  with  all  the  modern  improvements,  has  been 
added  to  the  service  within  the  last  year.  This 
ambulance  is  complete  in  all  its  appointments,  with 
the  quickest  emergency  service  to  any  part  of  the 
city.  This  feature  of  hospital  work  is  one  that  has 
been  neglected  by  colored  people  in  this  country, 
and  one  which  they  are  particularly  adapted  to  suc 
ceed  in. 

It  is  a  marvel  to  the  observer  of  human  affairs 
that  this  institution  has  existed,  for  over  twenty 
years,  receiving  an  annual  appropriation  of  over  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  without  an  ambulance  in  its  service, 


4°4  Evidences  of  Progress. 

in  a  city  like  Washington,  where  a  great  many  of 
the  people  are  poor  and  depend  upon  charity  in  cases 
of  sickness  and  distress.  This  ambulance  makes  as 
many  as  sixty  or  seventy-five  emergency  calls  per 
month,  furnishing  a  rich  field  of  surgical  study  to 
the  internes  and  nurses  in  the  institution. 

I  have  given  in  this  sketch  but  a  brief  outline  of 
the  noble  work  of  Dr.  Williams.  I  can  testify  to  his 
ability  as  a  physician,  and  I  take  great  pleasure  in  so 
doing.  He  is  one  of  the  cultured  and  polished 
gentlemen  who  reflect  credit  on  the  race. 

HOME  FOR  AGED  AND    INFIRM  COLORED  PERSONS. 

The  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Colored  Persons, 
in  West  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  is  one  of  the  best  institu 
tions  of  the  character  in  the  United  States.  The 
society,  under  whose  auspices  the  home  was  founded, 
was  organized  September  28,  1864,  in  a  private 
dwelling  on  South  Front  street. 

The  first  Board  of  Managers  and  principal  pro 
moters  of  this  most  noble  charity  was  composed  of 
Friends  and  colored  persons,  whose  circumstances 
gave  them  the  confidence  of  and  influence  in  the 
community,  and  was  elected  in  the  month  of  No 
vember,  1864,  whose  names  are  as  follows:  Officers; 
Dellwyn  Parrish,  President;  Stephen  Smith,  Vice- 
President;  Marcellus  Balderson,  Secretary;  Samuel 
R.  Shipley,  Treasurer;  William  J.  Alston,  William 
Still,  William  H.  Bacon,  Abram  Fields,  Joshua 
Brown,  Maurice  Hall,  Israel  H.  Johnson,  Joseph  M. 
Truman,  Jr.,  Henry  Gorden,  Clayton  Miller,  Jacob  Co 


406  Evidences  of  Progress 

White,  Sr.,  and  John  S.  Hills.  Female  members  : 
Sarah  M.  Douglas,  Helen  Johnson,  Rachel  T.  Jack 
son,  Anna  M.  Laws,  Catharine  M.  Shipley,  Priscilla 
H.  Heniszey,  Sarah  Parrish,  Mary  Jeanes,  Eliza 
Harris,  Alice  Hudson,  Grace  Mapes  and  Mary 
Shaw. 

The  original  constitution  was  adopted  on  the  25th 
day  of  the  tenth  month  (October),  1864,  the  pre 
amble  of  which  most  clearly  reveals  the  noble  im 
pulses  and  sentiments  which  burned  upon  the  altar 
of  these  noble  hearts,  and  actuated  this  noble  band 
of  true  disciples  of  the  blessed  Christ  to  such  splen 
did  deeds. 

The  preamble  reads  as  follows  :  "  For  the  relief 
of  that  worthy  class  of  colored  persons  who  have 
endeavored  through  life  to  maintain  themselves,  but 
who  from  various  causes  are  finally  dependent  on 
the  charity  of  others,  an  association  is  hereby  organ 
ized  under  the  name  of  '  The  Home  for  Aged  and 
Infirm  Colored  Persons.'  " 

The  number  of  persons  admitted  to  the  home 
within  the  first  thirteen  months,  or  up  to  the  twelfth 
month,  1865,  was  (21)  twenty-one,  and  all  women, 
representing  the  States  of  New  Jersey,  Delaware, 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  Massachusetts, 
South  Carolina,  West  Indies  and  far-away  Africa  ; 
their  ages  ranging  from  (70)  seventy  to  (102)  one 
hundred  and  two  years,  which  clearly  indicates  how 
nobly  they  had  struggled  on  in  the  race  of  life 
against  all  odds. 

The  receipts  for  the  establishment  and  mainten- 


Among  Colored  People. 


407 


ance  of  the  home   during  the   first  fiscal   year   were 
$6,033.80. 

The  work  of  the  home  was  conducted  in  the  house 
at  340  South  Front  street  until  1871,  when,  through 
the  munificence  of  Rev.  Stephen  Smith  and  his  wife, 
colored  persons  of  considerable  means,  one  acre  of 
ground  on  the  corner  of  Girard  avenue  and  Belmont 


REV.  STEPHEN  SMITH. 


avenue  was  given  the  Board,  together  with  a  magnifi 
cent  four-story  brick  building,  valued  at  $40,000. 
The  inmates  of  the  home  on  Front  street  moved  to 
West  Philadelphia.  This  building  was  opened  June 
29,  1871,  since  which  time  it  has  stood  there  as  an 
ornament  to  the  city  and  an  enduring  and  fitting 
monument  to  the  memory  of  its  noble  donors,  and 


408  Evidences  of  Progress 

with  ever-widening  influence,  power  and  helpfulness, 
standing  for  and  fulfilling  all  that  is  involved  in  the 
term  "  Home  "  for  that  worthy  and  deserving  class 
of  Aged  and  Infirm  Colored  Men  and  Women. 

Mr.  Edward  T.  Parker,  of  Philadelphia,  who  died 
October  3d,  1887,  gave  $85,000  to  the  institution 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  the  annex  to  the  old 
building.  Additions  have  been  made  to  the  home 
in  recent  years  at  a  cost  of  $85,000,  thus  making 
the  entire  plant  cost  upward  of  $150,000,  with  ca 
pacity  for  the  maintainance  of  a  family  of  near  200 
persons,  and  giving  us  a  home  at  once  the  most 
complete,  extensive  and  far-reaching  in  its  benefits 
of  any  institution  of  its  kind  in  the  city,  and  for  the 
class  whom  it  is  designed  to  bless,  possibly  in  the 
world.  The  total  number  cared  for  by  the  home 
has  been:  men,  116;  women,  427;  total,  543,  while 
the  present  number  in  the  home  is  138;  or  the 
whole  family,  help  and  all,  160;  the  maintenance 
of  which  requires  an  expenditure  monthly  of  from 
$1,500  to  $1,600,  or  near  $20,000  per  annum.  With 
the  enlarged  facilities  come  greatly  increased  de 
mands  and  largely  increased  outlays. 

The  chief  need  now,  therefore,  is  more  means, 
that  the  Home  may  always  be  able  to  extend  the 
hand  of  help  to  worthy  applicants,  and  comfortably 
maintain  this  large  and  most  interesting  family  of 
worthy  aged  and  infirm  colored  persons,  up  to  the 
full  capacity  of  the  building  to  accommodate. 

This  noble  charity  has  been  supported  largely  by 
members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  they  constituting 


Among  Colored  People. 


409 


the  principal  portion  of  the  Board  of  Managers.     Yet 
the  colored   people  themselves  have  contributed  to 


EDWARD   T.    PARKER. 


this  institution  between  $175,000  and  $2OO,OOO  since 
its  establishment. 


410  Evidences  'of  Progress. 

The  present  Board  of  Management  consists  of  six 
teen  men  and  fifteen  women,  with  a  co-operative  com 
mittee  of  nineteen  women,  all  of  whom  are  most 
earnest  and  self-sacrificing  in  behalf  of  the  Home  and 
the  family  of  old  people. 

Officers  of  the  corporation  are :  Wm.  Still,  244 
South  Twelfth  street,  President ;  Joseph  M.  Truman, 
1500  Race  st.,  Vice  Pres. ;  Walter  Penn  Shipley, 
404  Girard  Building,  Treas.  ;  Thos.  H.  McCollin, 
1030  Arch  st,  Secty. ;  C.  T.  Shaffer,  M.  D.,  1821 
Carnac  st,  Chairman  of  Board  of  Managers. 

Communications  addressed  to  any  one  of  the  above- 
named  gentlemen  will  receive  prompt,  courteous,  and 
careful  attention. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

PROMINENT   COLORED   WOMEN. 

As  a  splendid  type  of  noble  womanhood  I  know 
of  no  better  subject  than  Dr.  Hallie  Tanner  Johnson. 


DR.    HALLIE   TANNER    JOHNSON. 


She  is  a  daughter  of  Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner,  of  the 
A.  M.  E.  Church,  who  is  justly  proud  of  her. 


4.12  Evidences  of  Progress 

Not  only  as  teachers  have  colored  women  labored 
for  the  race,  but  they  can  be  found  in  most  of  the 
professions  also.  The  subject  in  question  saw  and 
felt  the  need  of  lady  physicians,  and,  acting  upon  her 
feelings  in  the  matter,  she  read  medicine  at  the 
Women's  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia,  and  grad 
uated  with  high  honor.  There  being  an  opening  at 
Tuskegee  Institute  for  a  resident  physician,  Dr. 
Johnson  went  to  fill  the  place.  But  before  she  could 
practise  medicine  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  she  had 
to  stand  an  examination  before  a  State  Board  of 
Examiners.  She  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
first  lady,  white  or  colored,  to  receive  a  certificate  to 
practise  medicine  in  the  State  of  Alabama.  It  is 
with  the  greatest  regret  that  I  call  my  readers'  atten 
tion  to  the  fact  that  since  the  first  edition  of  my  book 
came  out  Dr.  Johnson  has  passed  away.  She  died 
at  her  home  in  Nashville,  Tenn. 

There  are  other  interesting  characters  among  col 
ored  ladies  who  have  read  and  are  now  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine,  one  of  whom  is  Dr.  Caro 
line  V.  Anderson,  of  Philadelphia.  Her  experience 
has  been  very  interesting  and  useful,  for  her  practice 
has,  been  about  evenly  divided  between  white  and 
colored  people,  and  among  the  whites  she  has  been 
called  into  some  of  the  very  best  families.  I  re 
gard  Mrs.  Anderson  as  one  of  the  most  intellectual 
women  I  have  ever  met.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
William  Still,  who  wrote  that  most  interesting  book, 
"The  Underground  Railroad." 

Among  the  earliest  to  graduate  as  lady  physicians 


Among  Colored  People.  413 

from  the  Women's  Medical  College,  of  New  York, 
is  Dr.  Susan  McKinney. 

Dr.  Alice  Woodby  McKane  has  lately  organized 
a  nurses'  training  school,  at  Savannah,  Ga.  Dr. 
Georgia  L.  Patton,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Meharry 
Medical  College,  now  enjoys  a  good  practice  at 
Memphis,  Tenn. 

Miss  L.  C.  Fleming,  who  worked  for  five  years  in 
the  Congo,  has  just  finished  her  medical  course  at 
the  Women's  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  and, 
I  am  told,  returned  to  Africa. 

Dr.  S.  B.  Jones,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  and  has  done  good  work  as  the  Resi 
dent  Physician  at  Spelman  Seminary,  Atlanta,  Ga., 
and  since  had  a  splendid  practice  at  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
is  successful. 

Colored  women  have  also  gone  into  the  practice 
of  dentistry. 

In  the  profession  of  law  we  have  three  colored 
ladies  who  have  graduated.  Mrs.  Mary  Shadd  Cary, 
of  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Miss  Florence  Ray,  of  New 
York;  and  Miss  Ida  Platt,  of  Chicago.  The  first 
named  is  well  known  as  a  brilliant 'speaker.  Miss 
Ida  B.  Platt  is  the  only  representative  of  the  race 
now  practising  at  the  bar. 

I  have  found  quite  a  number  of  colored  women 
engaged  in  various  branches  of  business.  At  St. 
Johns,  New  Brunswick,  Mrs.  Georgia  Whetzell  con 
trols  the  entire  ice  business  of  that  city,  giving  em 
ployment  to  75  men  each  winter,  packing  ice. 

At  Milford,  Del,  I   found   Miss  Serrenna  Palmer, 


Evidences  of  Progress 


who  began  business  in  1889  with  a  cash  capital  of 
$7,  which  she  invested  in  notions.  She  has  had 
wonderful  success,  and  in  addition  to  a  good-sized 
stock  of  goods  she  has  paid  for  two  houses. 

Among  the    highly  cultured   and    brilliant  women 
of  America  I  present  here  a  portrait  of  Mrs.  Victoria 


MRS.  VICTORIA  EARLE  MATTHEWS. 

Earle  Matthews,  who  has  done  grand  service  for  the 
race  as  President  of  the  Women's  Loyal  Union,  of 
New  York  and  Brooklyn.  Mrs.  Matthews  began 
life  in  Georgia  as  a  slave,  but  came  North  when  quite 
young,  and  made  the  very  best  of  her  educational 
advantages. 


Among  Colored  People.  415 

Mrs.  Matthews  is  now  doing  a  splendid  work  in 
what  is  known  as  the  White  Rose  Mission,  which 
was  the  outcome  of  a  desire  on  the  part  of  a  few 
Christian  women  to  create  sympathy  and  practical 
interest  in  the  isolated  condition  of  the  Afro-Ameri 
can  wpman  and  girl  in  New  York  City.  At  the 
urgent  solicitation  of  Rev.  H.  G.  Miller,  of  Mt.  Tabor 
Presbyterian  Church,  the  neighborhood  surrounding 
East  9/th  Street  was  decided  upon  as  a  basis  of 
.wojrk.  Mr.  Winthrop  E.  Phelps  offered  free  use  of 
rooms  for  a  year.  A  small  company  of  Afro-Amer 
ican  women  volunteered  regular  service. and  contri 
butions  of  furniture.  For  more  than  eighteen  months 
it  Ijias  successfully  conducted  Neighborhood  Visiting, 
Mothers'  and  Young  People's  Meetings,  also  classes 
in  (Sewing,  Dressmaking,  Cooking,  and  Kindergarten. 

While  I  am  making  mention  of  a  few  writers,  I 
wijl  call  your  attention  to  Mrs.  Frances  Ellen  Wat- 
kins  Harper,  who  has  been  a  writer  of  ability  for 
many  years.  She  is  also  a  well-known  temperance 
wqrker,  and  at  one  time  had  charge  of  the  colored 
work  for  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  among  colored  women. 
THe  literary  effort  of  her  life  is  the  beautiful  story, 
entitled,  "  lola  Leroy ;  or,  The  Shadows  Uplifted." 

This  book  is  indeed  a  gem  and  should  be  read  by 
every  one.  I  am  confident  if  such  books  written  by 
Colored  writers  c;ould  be  read  by  the  leading  White 
people 'of  our  country,  much  good  might  be  done  in 
breaking  down  the  awfult  prejudice  which  now  exists. 
Her  book  receivetj  many  very  fine  press  comments 
from  the  leading  White  papers  of  this  country;  for 
yvant  of  (space.,j  can,, only, give  one: 


416 


Evidences  of  Progress 


"The  story  of  *  lola  Leroy'  is  well  worth  reading. 
The  plot  is  natural  and  the  characters  are  to  be 
found  in  everyday  life.  The  dialogue  is  exceedingly 
clever,  full  of  pathos,  humor,  and  authentic.  The 
plot  covers  periods  before,  during,  and  after  the  war, 
and  gives  abundant  opportunity  for  changing  scenes 


MRS.    FRANCES    E.    \V.    HARPER. 

and  dramatic  effects.  Mrs.  Harper  has  never  written 
to  better  effect  nor  with  a  more  worthy  object  in 
view.  The  book  will  greatly  increase  her  popularity 
as  a  writer  and  prove  vastly  beneficial  to  the  cause 
of  her  brethren."— Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia. 

The  Chicago  Inter-Ocean,  New  York  Independent, 


Among  Colored  People.  417 

Daily  Evening  Telegraph,  Philadelphia,  and  Boston 
Herald  all  spoke  in  the  highest  praise  of  "  lola 
Leroy." 

Oberlin  College,  in  Oberlin,  Ohio,  has  turned  out 
quite  a  number  of  colored  graduates  who  have  done 
good  work  for  humanity.  Among  them  is  Mrs.  A 
J.  Cooper,  who  is  connected  with  the  High  School  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  I  wish  to  speak  more  especially 
of  her  book,  "A  Voice  From  the  South,"  by  a  black 
woman  of  the  South.  It  is  just  what  Mrs.  Mossell 
says — "One  of  the  finest  contributions  yet  made 
'toward  the  solution  of  the  Negro  problem."  One 
gets  in  reading  her  book  a  sense  of  her  strong  intel 
lectual  and  spiritual  power.  As  an  educated  woman 
we  have  none  better,  white  or  colored.  I  have  had, 
for  some  time,  a  picture  of  Mrs.  Cooper  in  my  illus 
trated  lecture  on  "  Race  Progress,"  and  while  I  was 
in  England  her  face  created  quite  an  interest  among 
the  cultured  people  who  attended  the  lectures. 

Mrs.  N.  F.  Mossell  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia, 
Penna.  She  is  an  ex-pupil  of  the  Robert  Vaux 
Grammar  School.  Since  her  sixteenth  year  she  has 
been  a  constant  contributor  to  the  Christian  Recorder, 
Standard  Echo,  and  other  journals  at  a  later  date. 
As  editor  of  the  Women's  Departments  of  the 
New  York  Age  and  the  Indianapolis  World,  Mrs. 
Mossell  became  widely  known.  Becoming  the  wife 
of  Dr.  N.  F.  Mossell,  during  the  year  1880,  she  as 
sisted  him  for  two  years  in  the  publication  of  the 
Alumni  Magazine.  For  seven  years  she  worked  on 
27 


418 


Evidences  of  Progress 


three  of  the  most  influential   dailies  in    Philadelphia, 
The  Press,  Times,  and  Inquirer. 
Some  of  her  best  literary  efforts  have  appeared  in 


MRS.    N.    F.    MOSSELL   AND 


:R    DAUGHTERS. 


A.  M.  E.  Review,  A.  M.  E.  Zwn  Review,  Our  Women 
and  CJdldren,  and  Ringsivood 's  Magazine.  In  the 
past  year  Mrs.  Mossell  has  been  the  editor  of  the 
"  Open  Court,"  an  ably-edited  department  of  the 
Woman's  Era. 

"  The  Work  of  The  Afro-American  Woman," 
her  first  attempt  at  authorship,  was  given  an  excep 
tionally  kindly  reception.  An  edition  of  1,000  copies 
was  soon  exhausted.  Many  of  the  finest  comments 
ever  received  by  any  race  author  fell  to  the  happy 


Among  Colored  People.  419 

lot  of  this  lady.  Such  journals  as  the  New  York 
Independent,  CJiicago  Inter- Ocean  and  Springfield 
Republican  spoke  in  high  terms  of  her  publication. 

A  talented  young  woman,  and  a  noteworthy 
representative  of  the  educated,  cultured  and  refined 
class  of  colored  women  in  the  United  States  to-day, 
is  Miss  Alice  Ruth  Moore,  of  New  Orleans,  La. 

As  a  gifted  author,  Miss  Moore  is   entitled  to  un- 


MISS  ALICE  RUTH  MOORE. 


usual  consideration,  while  her  versatility  in  other 
directions  proves  that  she  is  a  worthy  type  of  pro 
gressive  womanhood. 


426  Evidences  of  Progress 

She  was  a  quick,  apt  scholar  during  her  school 
days,  and  developed  such  talent  for  composition 
that  she  was  encouraged  to  devote  special  attention 
to  English  literature  and  the  classics,  and  to  what 
end  her  efforts  in  this  direction  were  expended  is 
plainly  noticeable  in  the  excellence  of  her  style  of 
Writing.  The  warmth  and  vigor  of  imagination 
which  characterizes  all  of  her  writings,  inspires  and 
helps  one  to  appreciate  the  true  joys  of  an  ever- 
varying  and  fluctuating  life. 

The  colored  race  has  produced  some  very  sweet 
singers.  I  shall  name  a  few  of  them  in  this  chapter. 
Many  of  my  readers  will  remember  the  "  Original 
Fisk  Jubilee  Singers,"  who  created  such  wide  interest 
in  all  sections  of  this  country  and  in  Europe.  Among 
the  ladies  were  Miss  Maggie  Porter-Cole,  who  is  still 
singing,  and  Miss  Jennie  De  Hart  Jackson,  who  has 
retired.  Among  those  of  more  recent  date  I  would 
mention  Madame  Selika,  who  has  appeared  in  all  of 
the  principal  cities  of  the  world ;  Madame  Sisseretta 
Jones,  who  has  just  returned  from  an  extensive  trip 
through  Europe ;  Miss  Bessie  Lee,  of  Philadelphia, 
who  has  a  very  sweet  voice,  and  Miss  Jennie  Robin 
son  Stewart,  who  comes  of  a  musical  family.  While 
I  was  attending  the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago,  I  met, 
for  the  first  time,  Gertrude  Hawkins.  I  have  heard 
many  singers,  but  a  sweeter  voice  I  have  never  heard. 

I  have  left  until  the  last  Madam  Flora  Batson  Ber 
gen,  because  I  want  to  present  a  picture  of  her,  and 
make  special  mention  of  her  work  as  a  singer.  Some 
singers  render  a  class  of  music  either  in  some  foreign 


Among  Colored  People. 


421 


language,  or  else  give  us  music  that  is  on  such  a  high 
plane  that  ordinary  people  can  not  understand  it.  But 
Madam  Bergen  gives  us  the  old  songs  we  heard  when 
we  were  children,  and  she  sings  them  in  such  a  way 
as  to  reach  our  very  souls. 

On  Thursday,  March  19,  1896,  the  funeral  service 


MADAM   FLORA   BATSON  BERGEN. 


of  Rev.  R.  H.  Stitt,  one  of  our  young  men  who  had 
just  passed  away,  was  held  in  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church, 
Philadelphia.  Madam  Bergen  sang  two  selections  on 


422  Evidences  of  Progress 

that  occasion,  and  never  will  I  forget  the  impression 
made  upon  me  by  her  sweet  voice.  She  sang  "No 
Tears  in  Heaven."  That  may  be  true.  But  there 
were  plenty  of  tears  shed  by  that  audience  while  slu 
was  singing  the  song.  I  am  positive  that  all  of  these 
great  singers  must  be  a  help  to  the  race  in  educating 
white  people  up  to  a  better  knowledge  of  what  the 
race  can  do.  It  might  be  well  at  this  point  to  call 
attention  to  the  elocutionists  of  the  race.  I  feel  that 
some  day  they  must  play  a  prominent  part  in  the 
dramatic  world.  In  a  small  way,  they  have  done  that 
already,  among  themselves.  . 

In  1893,  Miss  Henrietta  Vinton  Davis  organized  a 
colored  company  in  Chicago,  and  produced  "  Dessa- 
lines,"  a  play  written  by  William  Edgar  Easton,  of 
Texas,  a  bright  young  colored  man.  While  the  pro 
duction  in  some  ways  was  crude,  I  am  sure  that  when 
we  take  into  consideration  how  great  were  the  disad 
vantages  under  which  Miss  Davis  had  to  labor,  I  feel 
that  the  general  verdict  would  be  in  her  favor. 
Among  those  who  took  part  in  the  play  was  Miss 
Fannie  Hall,  of  Chicago,  who  is  without  question  a 
fine  dramatic  reader,  and  who  should,  by  all  means, 
be  kept  more  prominently  before  the  public. 

One  of  the  first  colored  ladies  to  take  up  elocution 
as  a  profession  was  Miss  Hallie  Quinn  Brown,  who 
is  well  known  and  admired  throughout  the  United 
States.  Miss  Brown  has  great  powers  in  winning 
friends,  and  great  control  over  an  audience.  For 
several  years  she  spent  her  time  in  England.  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  being  present  at  her  first  entertain- 


Among  Colored  People.  423 

went  in  London  after  her  arrival.  She  has  had  the 
distinction  of  displaying  her  talent  to  a  greater  num 
ber  of  white  people  than  any  other  colored  lady  of 
her  calling. 

Mrs.  Florida  D.  Carr,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  has  made 
a  splendid  reputation  as  an  elocutionist.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  the  New  England  Conservatory  of 
Music  and  Elocution.  I  was  very  much  impressed 
with  her  power  as  a  reader.  Mrs. 'Carr  has  a  wonder 
ful  voice  and  perfect  control  of  it  in  both  humorous 
and  pathetic  selections. 

In  Atlanta,  Ga.,  my  attention  was  called  to  Mrs. 
Carrie  Steel  Logan,  who  began  a  home  for  orphan 
children  a  few  years  ago;  I  think  in  1889.  She 
started  in  a  miserable  little  hut  with  some  five 
fatherless  and  motherless  children.  At  first  it  was 
hard  to  get  any  help  from  either  the  colored  or  white 
people.  But  right  will,  as  a  rule,  prevail,  and  so  it 
proved  in  this  case,  for  now  I  am  told  that  there 
is  not  a  colored  church  in  Atlanta  that  does  not  give 
something  to  support  this  Home.  The  city  gave  her 
four  acres  of  ground  a  short  while  ago,  on  which  has 
been  erected  a  fine  brick  house.  When  I  visited  the 
Home  in  1894  there  were  fifty-three  children  being 
cared  for  in  this  institution.  Mrs.  Logan  visits 
the  merchants  of  Atlanta  from  time  to  time,  and  by 
these  visits  procures  provisions  enough  to  help  in  the 
support  of  these  children. 

Mrs.  Lucy  Thurman,  from  Jackson,  Mich.,  who  has 
given  the  best  part  of  her  life  to  temperance  work,  is 
now  managing  the  work  among  the  colored  people. 
As  a  public  speaker  she  ranks  among  the  best. 


424  Evidences  of  Progress 

Mrs.  Julia  Ringwood  Coston,  who  published 
Ringwoods  Journal,  which  took  the  place  in  a  way 
of  The  Ladies'  Home  Journal,  is  one  of  the  re 
markable  literary  women  of  the  race. 

Mrs.  Harvey  Johnson,  of  Baltimore,  has  written 
two  very  useful  books,  which  have  been  published  by 
the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  one  called 
"  Clarence  and  Corinne,"  and  the  other,  "  The  Hazeley 
Family."  Both  were  regarded  as  especially  adapted 
to  Sunday-school  purposes. 

Her  husband,  Rev.  Harvey  Johnson,  said,  in  speak 
ing  of  his  wife's  ability:  "I  can't  understand  how 
she  does  it,  but  although  she  has  the  care  of  this 
house,  and  does  a  great  deal  of  her  own  work,  she 
in  some  way  finds  time  to  write."  And  I  could  add 
that  what  she  writes  is  of  the  very  best  quality. 

When  referring  to  the  women  who  have  made 
a  name  for  themselves  in  the  musical  world, 
I  failed  to  call  attention  to  Mrs.  E.  Lyons,  of  New 
York,  who  delights  the  people  of  New  York  with  her 
sweet  voice.  She  has  just  organized  a  quartette  of 
young  colored  ladies,  which  is  the  only  one  of  the 
kind  in  the  country. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  can  boast  of  a  few  colored  ladies 
who  are  engaged  in  large  business  enterprises, 
namely :  Mrs.  Henry  Jones,  whose  husband  in  his 
life  was  a  large  and  successful,  caterer.  At  his  death, 
instead  of  her  giving  up  the  work,  she  went  on  with 
it,  and  although  she  is  quite  an  elderly  lady  now, 
she  is  still  actively  engaged  in  the  business.  In  her 


Among  Colored  People.  425 

case  I  am  sure  it  is  genuine  enterprise,  for  I  am  told 
her  husband  left  ample  means  for  the  support  of  the 
family. 

There  are  two  very  successful  lady  undertakers  in 
Philadelphia,  in  the  persons  of  Mrs.  Henrietta  Du- 
terte  and  Mrs.  Addison  Foster.  Mrs.  Duterte  is  the 
oldest  colored  undertaker  in  the  city.  Mrs.  Foster, 
who  is  a  younger  woman,  and  for  that  reason  more 
active,  is  doing  a  very  large  business. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rails,  who  has  been  engaged  in 
mission  work  in  Philadelphia,  and  who  organized  the 
Sarah  Allen  Mission  and  Faith  Home,  is  worthy  of 
special  mention ;  not  because  she  is  wealthy  or 
highly  intellectual,  but  because  she  has  a  heart  full 
of  love  for  God  and  humanity.  Every  year  she 
serves  a  Christmas  dinner  to  the  poor.  At  some  of 
these  dinners  over  500  poor  colored  men  and  women 
have  been  present. 

Among  the  lady  writers  who  are  doing  good  work 
in  general  I  invite  your  attention  to  a  publication  called 
Light  and  Love,  a  journal  for  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions,  published  by  Mrs.  Lida  Lowry  and  Mrs. 
Emma  Ranson.  These  two  ladies  are  regarded  as 
very  energetic  and  useful  workers  in  the  "  Mite  Mis 
sionary  Society  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church." 

The  great  work  that  is  being  done  for  the  elevation 
of  the  colored  people  by  the  untiring  workers,  such  as 
Mrs.  Victoria  Matthews,  Mrs.  Booker  T.  Washington 
and  Mrs.  Libbie  C.  Anthony,  and  others,  who  are 
leaders  in  what  is  known  as  the  Federation  of  Afro- 
American  Women.  The  object  of  this  organization 


426  Evidences  of  Progress 

is  the  "  concentration  of  the  dormant  energies  of  the 
women  of  the  Afro-American  race  into  one  broad 
band  of  sisterhood  ;  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
needed  reforms,  and  the  practical  encouragement  of 
all  efforts  being  put  forth  by  various  agencies,  re 
ligious,  educational,  ethical  and  otherwise,  for  the 
upbuilding,  ennobling  and  advancement  of  the  race ; 
(2)  To  awaken  the  women  of  the  race  to  the  great 
need  of  systematic  effort  in  home  making  and  the 
divinely  imposed  duties  of  motherhood. 

The  need  of  rescue  work  among  our  people  by 
our  women.  The  establishment  of  Christian  homes 
and  asylums  for  our  fallen  and  wayward. 

The  separate  car  law. 

Prison  reform. 

The  plantation  woman  and  child. 

The  John  Brown  Memorial  Association. 

The  proposed  international  exposition  in  Paris, 
1900;  the  part  Afro-American  women  should  take. 

The  need  of  a  National  Afro-American  woman's 
paper. 

Plans  for  raising  necessary  money  and  securing 
necessary  support  for  the  same. 

How  can  the  National  Federation  of  Afro-Ameri 
can  Women  be  made  to  serve  the  best  interests  and 
needs  of  our  women  ? 

The  strength  of  this  new  national  organization, 
even  while  yet  in  its  infancy,  gives  encouragement 
of  its  ultimate  power  among  the  people  it  represents. 
The  roll  now  includes  fifty  organizations,  the  average 
number  composing  a  local  organization  being  seventy- 


Among   Colored  People.  427 

five  members,  many  of  the  clubs   having  on  roll  as 
many  as  250  names. 

Mrs.  Booker  T.  Washington,  wife  of  that  great 
educator,  has  a  very  interesting  history.  She  is  a 
Southern-born  woman,  having  first  seen  the  light  of 
day  at  Macon,  Miss.,  in  1865.  She  is  truly  a  self- 
made  woman,  the  story  of  her  life  and  struggles  to 
attain  intellectual  life  being  full  of  pathetic  interest. 
A  mere  outline  is  inadequate  to  do  justice  to  the 
heroic  efforts  that  have  placed  her  to-day  as  one  of 
the  prominent  women  of  her  race.  One  of  a  large 
family,  of  which  the  mother  was  bread-winner,  her 
father  having  died  when  she  was  a  small  child,  she 
would  have  had  no  opportunity  for  education  had 
she  not  through  her  own  exertions  created  for  her 
self  a  way  into  the  school  life.  Until  her  graduation 
from  the  Fisk  University  she  gave  her  own  labor  in 
payment  of  board  and  tuition,  gaining  spending 
money  through  services  rendered  teachers  and  pupils 
— and  by  teaching  at  fifteen,  it  can  be  readily  seen 
that  all  the  usual  pleasures  of  youth  were  sacrificed 
in  the  cause  of  education.  Her  experience  as  a 
teacher  well  fitted  her  to  accept  the  offer  that  came  to 
her  on  graduating,  of  a  place  in  the  faculty  of 
Tuskegee  Institute.  She  immediately  entered  upon 
her  duties  there,  and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to 
the  principal  of  the  institution,  she  was  lady  prin 
cipal.  Appreciating  her  own  struggles,  she  stands, 
it  is  said,  as  a  changeless  friend  to  every  girl  working 
her  way  through  school. 

She  is  one  of  the  leading  spirits  of  this  grand  or- 


428  Evidences  of  Progress. 

ganization  that  is  destined  to  do  wonders  for  the 
colored  people  as  a  race.  She  was  succeeded  as 
president  by  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Terrell,  whose  portrait  is 
given  and  of  whom  mention  is  made  in  connection 
with  school  work  in  Washington  in  another  part  of 
this  book. 

MRS.    MAMIE    E.    STEWART. 

Mrs.  M.  E.  Stewart,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  is  the  wife 
of  Wm.  H.  Stewart,  who  is  editor  of  the  American 
Baptist.  Mrs.  Stewart  is  a  very  intelligent  and  refined 
lady,  and  one  of  the  most  useful  women  in  the  State. 
She  is  an  accomplished  musician,  having  completed  a 
course  in  the  National  Music  School  of  Chicago. 
For  many  years  she  has  had  charge  of  the  musical 
department  of  State  University  in  Louisville,  and  has 
made  an  enviable  record  as  an  instructor.  Her 
pupils  are  among  the  most  accomplished  musicians 
of  the  young  people.  At  the  meetings  of  the 
National  Baptist  Convention,  of  which  she  is  a  mem 
ber,  her  services  are  always  in  demand,  as  she  is  an 
expert  performer  on  the  pipe  organ.  For  a  number 
of  years  she  has  been  organist  of  the  5th  St.  Baptist 
Church,  and  has  the  record  of  never  being  tardy  nor 
absent.  She  is  a  leading  member  and  officer  of  the 
Baptist  Women's  Educational  Convention  of  Ken 
tucky.  Mrs.  Stewart's  home  life  is  beautiful  and  her 
children  show  the  influence  of  a  refined  and  cultured 
mother. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

DR.    JOHN    R.    FRANCIS    AND    HIS    PRIVATE    SANATORIUM. 

Dr.  John   R.   Francis   is   distinctly   a    product    of 


DR.    JOHN    R.    FRANCIS. 

Washington,  D.  C,  having  first  seen  the  light  of  day 
in  that  city.     He  is  the  only  son  of  one  of  the  city's 

(429) 


430 


Evidences  of  Progress 


most  worthy  citizens,  Richard  Francis,  his  mother 
being  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Francis.  He  has  been  loyal  to 
his  place  of  birth,  having  remained  constantly  there 
except  during  his  absence  in  other  states  in  the  pur 
suit  of  his  education.  His  early  school  days  were 
spent  in  the  private  and  public  schools  of  the  Dis 
trict  of  Columbia;  his  academic  education  was  re 
ceived  at  Wesleyan  academy  at  Wilbraham,  Mass- 

His  professional  course 
was  taken  at  the  Univer 
sity  of  Michigan,  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  where  he 
graduated  with  high  hon 
ors  in  the  class  of  1878, 
which  class  is  noted  for 
the  fact  that  some  of  its 
members  are  the  most  dis 
tinguished  scientists  of 
the  world  to  day.  His 
career  since  graduation 
has  been  that  of  the  typ 
ical  doctor.  He  has  devo 
ted  his  time  and  energy 
during  that  period  to  the 
relief  of  suffering  human 
ity.  With  Dr.  Francis  it  has  not  been  a  mercenary 
pursuit,  but  the  relief  of  the  wounded  and  sick  has 
always  been  his  first  thought  when  called  upon. 
Indeed  his  career  has  been  such  that  he  has  been  in 
variably  sought  by  the  people  of  Washington  as  a 
most  desirable  person  to  assume  the  several  respon- 


DR    JOHN    R.    FRANCIS 

private 
SANATORIUM. 


Among  Colored  People.  431 

sible  positions  that  have  fallen  to  him.  He  has  served 
that  city  and  the  colored  people  faithfully,  and  has 
done  most  excellent  service  in  the  many  offices  of 
trust  and  honor  which  he  has  held.  Among  his 
works  we  find  that  individuality  and  originality  of 
thought  and  action  which  is  doing  so  much  at  the 
present  time  to  draw,  to  the  colored  citizens  of  this 
country,  the  attention  of  the  civilized  world,  and  to 
command  its  respect  for  the  former's  intellectual  abil 
ity  and  skill  to  cope  with  the  other  American  citizens 
in  the  upbuilding  of  the  government  and  the  de 
velopment  of  its  grand  institution. 

As  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  the  District 
of  Columbia  Dr.  Francis  was  very  progressive,  and 
equally  as  aggressive  in  his  attempt  to  bring  about 
the  many  needed  reforms  in  the  public  schools  of 
that  city.  Although  having  done  much  good,  on 
account  of  the  lack  of  support  by  the  colored  citi 
zens,  being  ahead  of  the  times  as  they  saw  it,  he  re 
signed  his  position  on  the  board  because  he  saw  the 
impossibility  of  accomplishing  the  desired  good  and 
securing  for  them  the  many  benefits  it  was  possible 
to  gain  at  that  time.  His  strengthening  of  the 
teaching  ability  of  the  Washington  High  School  and 
his  improvement  of  the  Normal  school,  with  the  sub 
sequent  retrogressions  is  but  a  fair  example  of  his 
good  work  and  the  difficulties  he  had  to  overcome. 

While  acting  surgeon-in-chief  of  Freedmen's  Hos 
pital  during  the  several  months'  illness  of  the  surgeon- 
in-chief,  he  instituted  reforms  there  in  the  conduct  of 
its  professional  workings,  notably  the  surgical  and 


432 


Evidences  of  Progress 


obstetrical  department ;  in  the  management  of  ward 
work  and  the  installment  of  the  present  training 
school  for  nurses,  which  his  characteristic  modesty 


has  kept  from  the  outside  world  and  for  which  he  has 
never  been  given  credit. 

He  is  now  obstetrician  to  the  Freedmen's  Hospital 


Among  Colored  People. 


433 


and  demonstrator  and  clinical  lecturer  of  obstetrics  in 
the  medical  department  of  Howard  University. 


One  of  his  most  worthy  contributions,  however, 
to  the  District  of  Columbia  and  to  the  professional 
ability  and  business  tact  of  the  colored  man  is  the 


434 


Evidences  of  Progress. 


Francis  Sanatorium  at  2112   Pennsylvania  Ave.,  N. 
W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

This  institution  is  established  for  the  care  of  sick 


persons  whose  home  environments,  as  is  well  known, 
so  often  prevent  proper  treatment  and  rapid  convale 
scence.  The  object  is  to  guarantee  to  such  persons 


Among  Colored  People.  435 

the  careful  scientific  treatment  of  the  hospital  com 
bined  with  the  comforts  of  home. 

Any  physician  in  good  standing  is  permitted  to 
enter  and  treat  here  proper  cases,  from  his  private 
practice,  the  compensation  being  as  usual,  a  matter 
of  agreement  between  himself  and  his  patient.  In 
such  cases  a  fee  is  charged  only  for  room,  board, 
nursing,  ordinary  medicine,  and  any  assistance  by 
Dr.  Francis  which  may  be  desired. 

A  corps  of  trained  nurses  is  constantly  on  hand  by 
day  and  night. 

No  insane,  contagious  or  other  objectionable  cases 
admitted. 

All  surgical  operations  will  be  charged  for  accord 
ing  to  agreement  made,  in  advance. 

Trained  nurses  are  furnished,  any  hour  of  the  day 
or  night,  to  families  in  the  city  where  such  services 
are  needed. 

This  institution  is  conspicuous  in  being  the  only 
place  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States,  established, 
owned  and  managed  by  a  colored  man.  Indeed  we 
believe  it  is  the  only  one  in  the  world. 

The  works  of  this  man  are  a  credit  to  any  com 
munity  in  which  they  exist,  and  we  advise  the  youth 
of  to-day  to  imitate  the  example  of  Dr.  John  R. 
Francis. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN    SCHOOLS,    BOYDTON   INSTITUTE, 
AND  CHRISTIANSBURG  INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE. 

IN  this  chapter  I  wish  to  mention  the  school-work 
done  for  the  race  by  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 
This  matter  should  have  appeared  with  the  other 
Presbyterian  work,  but  for  the  fact  that  I  was  unable 
to  secure  the  data  when  the  first  edition  was  pub 
lished.  I  shall  also  mention  in  this  chapter  some 
other  school-work  that  came  too  late. 

KNOXVILLE    COLLEGE. 

Knoxville  College  is  located  at  Knoxville,  Tenn., 
and  is  under  the  control  of  the  Board  of  Missions  to 
the  Freedmen  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  of 
North  America.  By  arrangement  with  the  Univer 
sity  of  Tennessee  the  college  is  also  the  industrial 
department  of  the  university  for  colored  students. 
For  this  purpose  the  university  has  added  largely  to 
the  equipment  of  the  agricultural  department  and 
mechanical  department,  provides  for  the  salaries  of 
the  professors  of  these  departments,  and  sets  aside 
$600  annually  to  pay  for  the  labor  of  students  in 
these  departments.  Thus  they  are  enabled  to  earn 
somewhat  of  their  expenses,  and  especially  is  each 
one  taught  a  trade.  Aside  from  the  funds  received 
436 


Among  Colored  People.  437 

from  the  university  as  indicated  above,  the  college 
is  supported  by  voluntary  contributions  of  the  church. 

The  faculty  of  the  college,  including  matrons  and 
instructors  in  the  industrial  department,  numbers 
twenty-five.  The  president  of  the  college  is  Rev. 
R.  W.  McGranahan,  D.  D.,  who  has  been  in  that 
position  since  1899,  succeeding  at  that  time  Dr.  J. 
S.  McCulloch,  who  had  served  the  institution  as 
president  for  twenty-two  years. 

Knoxville  stands  for  the  most  thorough  training 
possible  in  an  intellectual  way,  and  at  the  same  time 
provides  for  the  most  helpful  industrial  training.  It 
is  in  hearty  sympathy  with  all  efforts  to  teach  the 
trades  to  the  colored  people,  and  is  maintaining  a 
thorough  industrial  department  for  that  purpose.  At 
the  same  time  the  literary  standard  is  not  lowered 
one  whit,  but  is  being  constantly  elevated.  The 
courses  of  study  offered  are  classical,  scientific, 
theological,  normal  and  common  school.  The 
industrial  department  offers  training  in  agriculture, 
carpentering,  electrical  work,  printing,  sewing  and 
housework. 

The  college  occupies  a  commanding  site  on  one 
of  the  hills  made  historic  by  the  siege  of  Knoxville 
during  the  Civil  War.  The  buildings  consist  of  a 
recitation  hall,  McCulloch  Hall  (boys'  dormitory), 
Elnathan  Hall  (girls'  dormitory),  boys'  home,  girls' 
home,  mechanical  building,  heating  plant,  president's 
cottage  and  barn.  Its  property  is  valued  at  $1 10,000. 

The  work  the  college  is  doing  is  best  seen  in  the 
lives  of  those  who  have  gone  out  from  it. 


43 8  Evidences  of  Progress 

profession  of  teaching  claims  the  larger  number; 
but  these,  for  the  most  part,  do  not  confine  their 
efforts  to  one  profession,  but  teach,  both  by  example 
and  precept,  some  manual  art — farming,  sewing, 
printing,  or  some  other  useful  occupation. 

NORFOLK    MISSION    COLLEGE. 

Located  at  Norfolk,  Virginia,  is  under  the  manage 
ment  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Rev.  Wm. 
M'Kirahan,  is  Principal  at  this  time,  and  has  under 
him  an  able  body  of  teachers.  The  teachers  em 
ployed  are  both  white  and  colored. 

The  wisdom  of  the  Board  of  Freedmen's  Missions 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  location 
of  one  of  its  Schools  in  Norfolk  is  easy  of  vindica 
tion.  In  behalf  of  the  Mission  College  appeal  may 
confidently  be  made  both  to  its  supporters  in  the 
North  and  its  patrons  in  the  South.  Nearly  ten 
thousand  colored  children  of  school  age  have  their 
homes  within  a  radius  of  four  miles  of  its  walls. 
Two-thirds  of  these  are  not  in  any  school. 

A  good  Normal  course  is  given  there,  and  an  In 
dustrial  training  is  given  in  sewing,  garment-making 
and  fancy  work  for  girls. 

Boys  are  taught  the  trade  of  printing.  That  de 
partment  gives  employment  to  28  pupils  for  a  short 
time  each  day.  The  training  given  here  includes  the 
application  of  the  rules  of  grammar  and  rhetoric  as 
well  as  instruction  in  composition  and  press-work. 
Several  of  the  boys  who  spent  some  time  in  this  de- 


Among  Colored  People.  439 

partment  are  now  employed  as  compositors  on  one 
of  the  city  papers. 

The  graduates  of  the  Mission  College  number 
one  hundred  and  thirty-four.  Nearly  all  are  usefully 
employed.  More  than  half  are  teachers.  A  good 
number  are  in  colleges  and  professional  schools  re 
ceiving  further  preparation  for  life's  work. 

THYNE    INSTITUTE. 

Thyne  Institute  is  located  at  Chase  City,  Va.,  on 
the  Richmond  and  Danville  Railroad.  The  location 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  South  Side  Virginia. 

The  buildings  are  four  in  number,  and  are  fitted  up 
in  modern  style.  Every  appliance  necessary  for  suc 
cessful  school-work  has  been  provided. 

The  aim  of  the  officers  of  the  Institute  is  to  edu 
cate  the  students  along  lines  tending  to  fit  them  for 
life's  work  in  the  home,  in  society,  as  teachers  in  the 
public  schools,  and  as  religious  instructors.  The 
moral,  mental,  and  industrial  are  united. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Moore,  A.M.,  Ph.D.,  is  Principal,  with 
an  able  body  of  teachers.  The  course  taught  there 
is  Normal,  and  they  have  a  fine  Industrial  Home  for 
girls,  where  they  are  taught  all  kinds  of  housework. 
The  school  is  under  the  control  of  the  United  Pres 
byterian  Church. 

HENDERSON    NORMAL    INSTITUTE. 

The  Henderson  Normal  Institute,  located  at 
Henderson,  N.  C,  is  a  school  established  and  con 
ducted  to  afford  the  colored  people  an  opportunity 


44°  Evidences  of  Progress 

of  obtaining  a  good  education.  It  is  a  part  of  the 
missionary  work  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
which  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  colored  race.  Having  opposed  slavery  as  a 
principle,  it  was  natural  that  as  soon  as  slavery  was 
abolished,  this  church  should  show  its  interest  in  the 
future  of  the  freedmen  by  doing  what  it  could  for  their 
moral  and  intellectual  development.  The  members 
of  the  church  in  the  North  have  given  freely  of  .their 
means  to  support  the  work  and  to  afford  the  colored 
people  an  opportunity  of  rising  and  enjoying  the 
blessings  and  advantages  which  God  has  opened  to 
all  in  this  free  land.  The  United  Presbyterian  Church 
gives  each  year  nearly  $50,000  in  money,  besides 
many  contributions  in  other  forms,  to  carry  on  the 
work  it  has  undertaken  for  the  colored  people. 

Rev.  C.  L.  McCracken,  A.M  ,  is  Principal,  and  is 
assisted  by  able  teachers. 

The  course  of  study  embraces  the  ordinary  Eng 
lish  branches  from  the  primary  to  the  high  school 
and  normal  grade. 

For  four  years  a  sewing  department  has  been 
maintained  in  connection  with  the  school.  The 
purpose  of  this  department  is  to  teach  all  the  girls 
in  the  school  to  do  plain  sewing,  and  to  cut  and 
make  their  own  garments.  A  competent  teacher 
gives  her  whole  time  to  this  department,  and  from 
1 2O  to  156  girls,  in  six  classes,  receive  instruction 
.nearly  one  hour  each  day.  During  the  year  many 
hundred  garments  are  made,  and  these  are  sold  to 
the  pupils  for  less  than  the  cost  of  the  materials. 


Among  Colored  People,  441 

An  industrial  department  has  been  added  for  the 
boys.  The  colored  people  are  making  rapid  progress 
in  knowledge,  and  taking  a  more  intelligent  interest 
in  business  and  politics.  In  consequence  they  are 
beginning  to  publish  their  own  papers;  and  each 
year  the  papers  published  by  them  and  in  their 
interest  will  increase. 

In  addition  to  the  schools  just  mentioned,  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  has  some  smaller  schools 
in  other  parts  of  the  South,  as  follows : 

At  Blue  Stone,  Va.,  with  an  attendance  of  about 
2OO  pupils.  One  at  Athens,  Tenn.,  with  nearly  200 
pupils,  and  at  Miller's  Ferry,  N.  C.,  of  over  2OO 
students.  One  at  Prairie  Bluff,  Ala.,  of  about  200, 
and  at  Camden,  Ala.,  of  200.  One  at  Canton  Bend, 
Ala.,  of  50,  and  one  at  Summerfield,  Ala.,  of  nearly 
2OO. 

The  data  given  regarding  these  schools  will 
enable  my  readers  to  see  that  the  United  Presbyte 
rian  Church  is  doing  its  share  in  educating  the 
colored  people. 

BOYDTON    INSTITUTE. 

The  institute  is  located  in  a  beautiful  grove  of 
oaks,  a  mile  from  Boydton,  Mecklenburg  County,  Va. 
The  Atlantic  and  Danville  Railroad  passes  through 
the  town  of  Boydton.  President,  Mrs.  Lucretia  A. 
Cullis,  Boston,  Mass. ;  Principal,  Rev.  D.  F.  Lam- 
son  ;  Associate  Principal,  Mrs.  H.  B.  Sharpe ;  Treas 
urer,  Miss  Mary  H.  Ware. 

In   1878,  the  "Randolph   Macon "  property,  con- 


442  Evidences  of  Progress 

sisting  of  a  four-story  brick  college  building,  steward's 
house,  and  about  425  acres  of  land,  was  purchased 
by  Dr.  Charles  Cullis,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  with  funds 
donated  for  the  purpose.  It  was  regularly  incor 
porated  as  a  branch  of  the  "  Faith  Work,"  and  a 
school  for  colored  people  immediately  opened.  The 
college  building  has  a  chapel,  school-rooms,  and 
library,  with  sleeping-rooms  for  more  than  one 
hundred  students.  The  dormitories  have  fire-places, 
which  enable  the  students  to  be1  comfortable  in  the 
coldest  weather. 

This  institute  is  intended  for  the  education  of 
colored  young  men  and  women,  who  wish  to  fit 
themselves  for  usefulness  among  their  own  people. 

In  addition  to  the  common  English  branches, 
provision  is  made  for  classes  in  English  Literature, 
Rhetoric,  Civil  Government,  and  the  Theory  and 
Practice  of  Teaching.  The  principal  also  gives 
instruction  in  Bible  History  and  Interpretation,  in 
Theology  and  in  Evangelistic  and  Pastoral  work. 
Special  attention  will  be  given  to  the  needs  of  post 
graduates  and  of  ministers. 

CHRISTIANSBURG    INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE,  CAMBRIA,  VA. 
CHARLES    L.    MARSHALL,    PRINCIPAL. 

The  Christiansburg  Industrial  Institute,  at  Cam 
bria,  Va.,  is  supported  by  the  Friends'  Freedmen 
Association  of  Philadelphia,  and  is  situated  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  Virginia,  in  the  town  of  Cam- 


Among  Colored  People.  443 

bria,  on  the  Norfolk  and  Western  Railroad.  The 
location  is  healthful  and  quiet. 

For  the  sake  of  pure,  moral  and  religious  training, 
which  is  so  much  needed  by  both  boys  and  girls,  the 
boarding  department  has  been  established.  Students 
living  at  a  distance  can  secure  board,  room  furnished, 
fuel  and  lights,  for  $7.50  per  month, 

The  design  of  this  institution  is  to  send  out  young 
men  and  women  well  qualified  for  the  great  work  of 
life;  young  men  and  women  who  will  lead  the  way 
to  the  highest  usefulness.  To  send  forth  such  a 
class  of  students  it  will  be  necessary  to  train  their 
heads  as  well  as  their  hearts,  and  their  hands  as  well 
as  their  heads. 

We  are  certain  that  at  this  institute  a  good  English 
course  of  study  and  the  most  needed  industries  can 
be  carried  on  without  conflict,  and  to  a  very  great 
advantage  to  all  who  may  attend  the  school. 

The  prime  object  of  this  institution,  aside  from  the 
literary  training,  is  to  put  within  the  hands  of  each 
young  man  and  woman  some  industry  by  which 
they  will  be  able  to  secure  a  livelihood  in  the  world. 

It  -will  be  modeled  after  the  Tuskegee  Industrial 
Institute  at  Tuskegee,  Ala.,  and  the  Friends  are 
advancing  every  effort  to  put  it  practically  on  the 
same  basis. 

There  are  no  industries  from  which  can  be  obtained 
such  profitable  and  immediate  results  as  those  of 
scientific  agriculture,  stock-raising,  fruit-growing, 
mattress-making,  carpentry,  wheelwrighting,  black- 


444  Evidences  of  Progress 

smithing,    dressmaking,    printing,    and    methodical 
cooking  and  housekeeping. 

The  Friends'  Freedmen  Association  of  Philadel 
phia  have  placed  the  Christiansburg  Industrial 
Institute  for  the  coming  year  under  the  supervision 
of  the  officers  of  the  Tuskegee  Industrial'  Institute, 
Tuskegee,  Ala.,  which  gives  Booker  T.  Washington 
a  general  oversight  of  that  work. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

HAMPTON    INSTITUTE,    HAMPTON,    VA. 

THE  Hampton  Normal  and  Agricultural  Institute 
first  opened  its  doors  for  the  reception  of  the  freed- 
men  in  April,  1868.  Of  its  beginning  and  purpose, 
General  Armstrong,  its  founder  and  for  twenty-five 
years  its  principal,  writes : 

"Two  and  a  half  years'  service  with  the  Negro  sol 
diers  (after  a  year  as  Captain  and  Major  in  the  1 25th 
New  York  Volunteers),  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  and 
Colonel  of  the  Ninth  and  Eighth  Regiments  of  U.  S. 

o  o 

Colored  Troops,  convinced  me  of  the  excellent  quali 
ties  and  capacities  of  the  freedmen.  Their  quick  re 
sponse  to  good  treatment  and  to  discipline  was  a 
constant  surprise.  Their  tidiness,  devotion  to  their 
duty  and  their  leaders,  their  dash  and  daring  in  battle, 
and  ambition  to  improve — often  studying  their  spell 
ing  books  under  fire — showed  that  slavery  was  a 
false,  though  doubtless,  for  the  time  being,  an  educa 
tive  condition,  and  that  they  deserved  as  good  a 
chance  as  any  people. 

"In  March,  1866,  I  was  placed  by  General  O.  O. 
Howard,  Commissioner  of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau, 
in  charge  of  ten  counties  in  Eastern  Virginia,  with 
headquarters  at  Hampton,  the  great  '  contraband  ' 
camp,  to  manage  Negro  affairs  and  adjust,  if  possible, 
the  relation  of  the  races. 

(445) 


446 


Evidences  of  Progress 


"  I  soon  felt  the  fitness  of  this  historic  and  strategic 
spot  for  a  permanent  and  great  educational  work. 
The  suggestion  was  cordially  received  by  the  Ameri 


can  Missionary  Association,  which  authorized  the 
purchase,  in  June,  1867,  of  '  Little  Scotland,'  an  es 
tate  of  125  acres  on  Hampton  River,  looking  out 


Among  Colored  People.  447 

over  Hampton  Roads.  Not  expecting  to  have 
charge,  but  only  to  help,  I  was  surprised,  one  day, 
by  a  letter  from  Secretary  E.  P.  Smith,  of  the  A.  M. 
A.,  stating  that  the  man  selected  for  the  place  had 
declined,  and  asking  me  if  I  could  take  it.  I  replied, 
4  Yes.'  Till  then  my  own  future  had  been  blind  ; 
it  had  only  been  clear  that  there  was  a  work  to  be 
done  for  the  ex-slaves  and  where  and  how  it  should 
be  done. 

"A  day-dream  of  the  Hampton  School,  nearly  as  it 
is,  had  come  to  me  during  the  war  a  few  times ;  once 
in  camp  during  the  siege  of  Richmond,  and  once  one 
beautiful  evening  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  while  on 
the  wheel-house  of  the  transport  steamship  Illinois, 
enroute  for  Texas  with  the  25th  Army  Corps  (Negro) 
for  frontier  duty  on  the  Rio  Grande  River,  whither  it 
had  been  ordered,  under  General  Sheridan,  to  watch 
and  if  necessary  defeat  Maximilian  in  his  attempted 
conquest  of  Mexico. 

"  The  thincf  to  be  done  was  clear:  to  train  selected 

o 

Negro  youth  who  should  go  out  and  teach  and  lead 
their  people,  first  by  example  by  getting  land  and 
homes ;  to  give  them  not  a  dollar  that  they  could 
earn  for  themselves  ;  to  teach  respect  for  labor ;  to  re 
place  stupid  drudgery  with  skilled  hands  ;  and.  to  these 
ends,  to  build  up  an  industrial  system,  for  the  sake 
not  only  of  self-support  and  intelligent  labor,  but  also 
for  the  sake  of  character.  And  it  seemed  equally 
clear  that  the  people  of  the  country  would  support  a 
wise  work  for  the  freedmen." 

Thus,  under  a  man  of  the  broadest  views  and  al- 


44^ 


Evidences  of  Progress 


most  prophetic  foresight,  the  school  had  its  begin 
ning.     Xvvo  teachers  and  fifteen  students  found  living 


room  and  class  room  in  the  dismantled  mansion,  the 
old  brick  mill  and  the  newer  barracks,  relics  of  the 
slavery  days  and  of  the  civil  war.  At  the  end  of  the 


Among  Colored  People. 


449 


school's  twenty-fifth  year  Gen.  Armstrong  died,  see 
ing,  as  it  is  given  to  few  to  see,  great  and  tangible 


results  from  his  years  of  self-sacrificing  labor.     Since. 
his  death,  the  work  has  been  carried  on  by  Rev.  H« 


29 


45 6  Evidences  of  Progress 

B.  Frissell,  D.  D.,  who  has  taken  up  with  wisdom 
and  courage  the  task  laid  upon  him  and  has  a  record 
behind  him  now  of  five  years,  during  which  the  in 
stitution  has  shown  steady  growth  and  improvement. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  year  there  were  on 
the  grounds  1,001  students;  of  these  135  are  Indians 
representing  ten  States  and  Territories  ;  361  are  chil 
dren  coming  from  the  immediate  neighborhood,  who 
are  instructed  in  the  Whittier  Primary  School.  There 
are  630  boarders — 383  boys  and  247  girls.  Of  the 
eighty  officers,  teachers,  and  assistants,  about  one- 
half  are  in  the  industrial  department. 

Instead  of  the  old  barracks,  there  are  now  over 
fifty-five  buildings,  including  dormitories,  academic 
and  science  buildings,  a  large  trade  school,  domestic 
science  and  agricultural  buildings,  a  beautiful  church, 
a  large  saw-mill  and  shops  where  students  help  to 
earn  their  board  and  clothes  and  receive  instruction 
in  blacksmithing,  wheelwrighting,  painting,  house 
building,  cabinet-making,  upholstery,  shoemaking, 
tailoring,  harness-making,  printing,  and  engineering. 
Two  large  farms  with  greenhouses,  barns,  and  experi 
ment  stations  give  employment  to  students  and  in 
struction  in  agriculture.  The  laundry,  dining-rooms, 
kitchens,  and  sewing-rooms  give  employment  to  the 
girls,  and  in  them  they  receive  instruction  in  sewing, 
dressmaking,  laundering,  and  other  branches  which 
fit  them  to  instruct  their  people  in  these  lines.  All 
the  domestic  work  of  the  place  is  performed  by  the 
students.  The  average  age  of  the  pupils  is  nineteen 
years. 


Among-  Colored  People. 


451 


452 


Evidences  of  Progress 


In  1870  this  institution  was  chartered  by  special 
act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia.  It  is  not 
owned  or  controlled  by  State  or  government,  but  by  a 


Board  of  seventeen  Trustees,  representing  different 
sections  of  the  country,  and  six  religious  denomina 
tions,  no  one  of  which  has  a  majority.  The  school 
now  has  a  property  worth  over  $600,000,  free  from 


Among  Colored  People.  453 

debt,  and  an  endowment  fund  of  over  a  half-million. 
It  receives  aid  through  the  State  of  Virginia  for  its 
agricultural  work  and  from  the  general  government 
toward  the  board  and  clothes  of  Indians,  but  it  is 
obliged  to  appeal  to  the  public  for  $8o,OOO  a  year. 

The  Slater  Fund  Board  makes  a  generous  yearly 
appropriation  toward  its  trade-school  work,  and  help 
is  received  from  the  Peabody  Fund,  but  the  school 
depends  for  the  large  part  of  its  yearly  expenses  upon 
charitable  contributions. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  the  imperative  need  of  the 
Negro  was  teachers  in  the  country  public  schools  of 
the  South,  who  could  show  the  people  by  example, 
as  well  as  by  precept,  how  to  live,  how  to  get  land 
and  build  decent  houses.  This  need  still  remains, 
but,  with  the  improvement  of  the  colored  racs,  more 
thoroughly  equipped  teachers  are  necessary,  not  only 
for  the  public  schools,  but  for  the  workshops,  and 
for  the  industrial  and  agricultural  schools  that  have 
started  up  all  through  the  South  and  among  the 
Indians  of  the  West.  To  meet  this  need  Hampton 
provides  an  Academic  Department  with  a  corps  of 
able  teachers,  mostly  graduates  of  normal  schools 
and  colleges,  who  give  thorough  instruction  in  the 

o  o  o 

English  branches.  Beside  this,  manual  training  is 
given  to  the  boys,  and  sewing,  cooking,  and  bench 
work  to  the  girls.  Those  of  the  boys  who  show  ap 
titude  for  trades  in  the  manual  training  classes  can 
receive  thorough  instruction  in  the  Trade  School,  a 
building  costing  $50,000  and  especially  adapted  to 
the  work.  Competent  instruction  in  carpentry,  wood 


454 


Evidences  of  Progress 


turning,     cabinet-making,     bricklaying,     plastering, 
wheelwrighting,   blacksmithing,    painting,    machine 


work,  and  mechanical  drawing  carry  students  through 
a  systematic   course   in  their   different  departments. 


Among  Colored  People. 


455 


fitting  them  to  be  teachers  of  trades.     Chance  is  also 

o 

given  to  do  actual  work  in  the  sixteen  productive 
industries  on  the  school  grounds. 


Those  of  the  girls  who  wish  trades  can  be  admit 
ted  into  the  Domestic  Science  Department  where  they 


456  Evidences  of  Progress 

are  fitted  to  be  teachers  of  sewing,  cooking,  and 
laundering,  with  an  opportunity  to  do  actual  work  in 
the  school's  laundry  and  kitchen. 

All  students  of  the  school  receive  instruction  in 
agriculture,  but  those  who  wish  to  devote  themselves 
especially  to  it  can  receive  special  instruction  in  the 
Agricultural  Department,  with  experiments  in  the 
laboratory  and  practical  work  upon  the  school's  two 
farms. 

Those  who  wish  to  fit  themselves  to  become  teach 
ers  in  the  public  schools,  after  graduation  from  the 
Academic  Department,  enter  the  Normal  Department, 
where  they  receive  instruction  in  methods  of  teach 
ing,  and  have  practice  in  the  Whittier  School,  in 
which  there  are  over  three  hundred  children,  with 
kindergarten  and  classes  in  cooking,  gymnastics, 
and  the  English  branches. 

The  boys  are  formed  into  a  battalion  under  the 
.Commandant  of  Cadets,  a  graduate  of  the  school, 
from  whom  they  receive  military  drill  and  gymnastic 
training.  A  United  States  officer  from  Fort  Monroe 
assists  in  this  work.  The  care  of  persons,  quarters, 
and  grounds  are  largely  under  the  care  of  the  offi 
cers  of  the  school  battalion.  The  girls  are  similarly 
organized  under  their  matrons  and  are  instructed  in 
habits  and  manners. 

The  school  is  non-sectarian  but  earnestly  Chris 
tian.  Careful  instruction  in  the  Bible  is  given  by 
teachers  representing  different  denominations.  The 
Chaplain  is  assisted  by  the  clergymen  of  Hampton 
in  the  religious  work  of  the  school. 


Among  Colored  People.  457 

Six  thousand  young  people  of  the  Negro  and  In 
dian  races  have  had  the  advantages  of  the  school's 
training  and  gone  out  as  teachers,  farmers,  and  busi- 


TRADE   SCHOOL   PAINT    SHOP. 


ness  men,  to  lift  their  people  to  a  higher  level. 
Nearly  1,000  have  graduated  from  the  school's  Aca 
demic  Department,  and  of  these  90  per  cent,  have  be- 


458  Evidences  of  Progress 

conic  teachers.  The  great  majority  have  gone  into 
the  public  schools.  Whole  counties  have  been 
transformed  by  their  work.  Homes,  churches,  and 
schools  have  been  built,  land  purchased,  and  the 
morals  of  the  community  improved. 

Booker  T.  Washington,  a  graduate  of  Hampton, 
founded  the  Tuskegee  School  in  Alabama,  and  over 
forty  other  graduates  have  gone  to  help  him  in  his 
work.  Schools  at  Calhoun  and  Mt.  Meigs,  Alabama, 
Kittrell,  North  Carolina,  Lawrenceville  and  Glou 
cester,  Virginia,  are  established  on  the  Hampton 
plan  and  carried  on  by  graduates  of  the  school. 
Under  the  teachers  who  have  gone  out  from  Hamp 
ton  and  its  offshoots  more  than  I5O,O'OO  children  have 
received  instruction.  Of  the  500  Indians  who  have 
been  trained  at  Hampton,  87  per  cent,  are  engaged 
as  teachers,  farmers,  missionaries,  and  in  other 
regular  occupations.  Twenty  years  ago,  Capt.  Pratt 
brought  fifteen  prisoners  of  war  from  Fort  Marion, 
St.  Augustine,  to  Hampton  and  remained  there  one 
year,  bringing  in  the  meantime  other  Indians  from 
the  West.  So  successful  was  that  first  experiment 
in  industrial  education  that  Carlisle  School  was  es 
tablished  and  now  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars, 
which  were  formerly  devoted  to  fighting  the  Indians, 
are  given  by  the  government  to  training  their  chil 
dren  in  industrial  schools. 

Hampton  has  given  an  impetus  to  industrial  edu 
cation  among  the  Negroes  which  is  felt  in  every 
State  of  the  South.  But  75  per  cent,  of  the  race  still 
live  in  one-room  cabins  on  rented  land,  in  ignorance 


Among  Colored  People. 


459 


and    poverty.     Teachers    of    agriculture    and    home 
builders  are  needed. 


There  is  danger  that  the  blacks  will  lose  the  trades, 
which  were  their  best  heritage  from  slavery,  unless 


460  Evidences  of  Progress 

industrial  education  is  pushed.     Well-trained  young 
women  must  go  out  to  reconstruct  the  homes. 

In  addition  to  the  work  done  by  the  school  directly 
for  its  pupils  in  class-ioom  and  industrial-training 
shop,  it  reaches  out  continually  into  the  home  life  of 
its  graduates  and  ex-students.  Its  graduate  mission 
aries  visit  in  many  homes,  inspiring  interest  in  land 
purchase,  home  building,  school-term  extension, thrift, 
temperance,  and  good  citizenship.  Its  monthly  paper, 
the  Southern  Workman,  deals  in  a  spirit  of  free  in 
quiry  and  broad  humanity  with  the  race  question  in 
its  many  phases,  and  publishes  in  its  columns  articles 
of  value  from  leading  men  and  women  of  both  the 
Negro  and  white  races.  Its  Summer  Conference, 
held  in  the  vacation  season,  calls  together  for  earnest 
discussion  some  of  the  best  thinkers,  white  and 
colored,  in  the  country  ;  and  the  Virginia  Teachers' 
Institute,  assembling  each  summer  on  the  school 
grounds,  keeps  the  school  in  touch  with  the  educa 
tional  system  of  the  State  in  which  it  works.  Its  aim 
is,  and  has  been  from  its  beginning,  to  lay  firm  and 
broad  the  foundation  of  character  upon  which  all  true 
civilization  is  built. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

STATE   SCHOOLS  AND  CALHOUN  SETTLEMENT VIRGINIA 

NORMAL  AND    COLLEGIATE    INSTITUTE. 

THIS  is  an  institution  supported  by  the  State  of 
Virginia  for  the  education  of  the  colored  youth.  The 
aim  of  the  institution  is  to  impart  knowledge,  disci 
pline  the  mind  and  train  the  hand  and  heart,  so  that 
those  who  leave  its  walls  shall  be  better  prepared  for 
the  diversified  duties  of  life.  In  the  Normal  course 


STATE  NORMAL   INSTITUTE,    PETERSBURG,   VA. 

of  three  years,  the  training  has  special  reference  to 
preparing  the  student  to  become  a  successful  teacher. 
It  is  to  this  department  that  most  of  the  students 
naturally  find  their  way.  This  course  is  comprehen 
sive  and  endeavors  to  give  all  that  is  essential  to  fit 
their  graduates  to  teach  any  of  the  public  schools  of 
Virginia.  Although  the  course  covers  a  wide  field, 

(461) 


462 


Evidences  of  Progress 


they  endeavor  to  so  drill  the  student  in  the  branches 
taught  that  his  knowledge  is  thorough,  and  not  a 
mere  smattering.  Considerable  time  is  given  to 


JAMES    HUGO   JOHNSTON. 


actual  teaching  of  little  children  under  the  supervis 
ion  of  the  Model  School  teacher. 

The  college  course  is  designed  to  give  a  higher 


Among  Colored  People.  463 

and  broader  culture  to  those  of  their  youth  who  are 
able  to  remain  longer  in  school,  or  desire  to  pursue 
the  professions.  This  course  covers  four  years.  The 
school  is  young,  and  quality,  not  quantity  or  number, 
being  their  standard  of  success,  they  have  thus  far 
labored  to  prepare  thoroughly  those  who  have  taken 
the  college  studies  before  admitting  them  to  this  de 
partment.  Their  curriculum  will  compare  favorably 
with  the  best.  The  advantages  here  offered  for  ob 
taining  a  college  education  at  small  cost  are  unparal 
leled. 

James  Hugo  Johnston,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  president 
and  Professor  of  Psychology  and  Moral  Science,  is 
indeed  a  self-made  man.  His  first  work  in  life  was 
that  of  a  newsboy  on  the  streets  of  Richmond.  In 
fact  he  kept  his  paper  route  for  some  time  after  he 
began  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
His  most  excellent  work  as  president  of  the  institute 
at  Petersburg  places  him  among  the  most  prominent 
educators  of  his  race.  He  has  under  him  a  very  able 
set  of  teachers. 

CALHOUN  COLORED  SCHOOL 

Is  a  school  and  social  settlement  in  the  blackest  belt 
county  of  Alabama.  Opened  and  incorporated,  1892. 
Trustees  :  Hon.  John  Bigelow,  President,  New  York, 
N.  Y. ;  Mr.  B.  T.  Washington,  Vice-President,  Tus- 
kegee,  Ala. ;  Mr.  R.  P.  Hallowell,  Auditor,  Boston, 
Mass. ;  Rev.  Pitt  Dillingham,  Secretary,  Calhoun, 
Ala.;  Miss  C.  R.  Thorn,  Treasurer,  Calhoun,  Ala. ; 
Rev.  H.  B.  Frissell,  D.  D.,  Hampton,  Va. ;  Col.  T,  W. 


464  Evidences  of  Progress 

Higginson,  Cambridge,  Mass. ;  Mr.  C.  F.  Dunbar, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Rev.  Silas  Jones,  Mount  Meigs,  Ala. 
Principals  :  Rev.  Pitt  Dillingham  and  Miss  C.  R. 
Thorn. 

The  school  is  located  at  Calhoun,  Lowndes  Co., 
Alabama,  on  Louisville  and  Nashville  R.  R.,  28  miles 
southwest  of  Montgomery.  It  is  a  one-room  cabin 
and  crop-mortgage  region. 

The  plant  is  a  farm  of  100  acres,  with  stock  and 
tools,  eleven  buildings,  namely,  two  schoolhouses, 
two  dormitories,  three  teachers'  cottages,  office,  in 
dustrial  building,  barn  and  farmhouse. 

Students  number  350  and  upwards;  46  boarding 
students ;  32  of  the  46  work  all  day  and  attend  night 
school.  Three  hundred  and  more  from  the  cabins 
of  the  county. 

Their  teaching  staff  is  seven  white  teachers  from 
the  North,  four  colored  teachers  from  Hampton,  one 
graduate  of  Calhoun,  five  other  workers — seventeen 
in  all. 

The  departments  are  Academic — with  Kindergar 
ten  and  eight  years'  Common  School  Course.  Indus 
trial — with  Agriculture  for  boys  and  Domestic  Train 
ing  for  girls. 

Our  graded  school  makes  a  natural  centre  for 
community-life.  Calhoun  is  in  the  midst  of  28,000 
plantation  negroes.  It  lives  in  touch  with  all  the  life 
of  its  township  and  county,  and  limits  its  aim  to  this 
social  group. 

They  have  Farmers'  Conferences,  Mothers'  Meet 
ings,  Sunday  and  Mission  Services.  Cabin,  School 


Among  Colored  People.  465 

Church  and  Plantation  Visiting.  Agricultural  Fairs, 
Teachers'  Institutes,  Celebration  of  National  Holi 
days,  and  Christian  Festivals.  Thrift  and  Land  Buy 
ing  Meetings,  Sociological  Study  of  the  County,  etc. 

To  change  the  crop-mortgage  peon  into  an  Amer 
ican  small  farmer,  with  land  and  home  of  his  own, 
is  our  problem  and  opportunity.  "  The  family  is  the 
foundation  of  the  nation." 

From  three  to  four  thousand  acres  are  being 
bought  at  $6  and  $7  an  acre.  75  families  (500  indi 
viduals)  are  being  planted  near  the  school.  A 
Southern  white  planter  and  neighbor  is  assisting. 

Calhoun  believes  in  the  educational  and  religious 
value  of  work  and  property.  It  stands  for  a  vital  and 
practical  Christianity. 

In  my  opinion  the  Calhoun  School  and  Social 
Settlement  is  based  on  the  right  principle  to  solve 
the  so-called  race  problem.  When  the  colored  peo 
ple  in  the  South  own  their  own  homes,  as  they  can 
under  the  system  that  has  been  established  at  Cal 
houn,  they  will  not  only  be  more  independent,  but 
more  prosperous,  and,  as  a  result  of  the  very  practi 
cal  training  given  there,  they  will  not  only  send  out 
farmers,  but  teachers,  mechanics,  and  merchants  as 
well.  As  colored  men  are  able  to  start  stores  in  the 
South  they  will  be  able  to  furnish  employment  to 
graduates  from  such  schools  as  clerks  and  book 
keepers.  I  am  sure  that  if  the  people  in  the  North 
could  only  understand  what  a  real  blessing  such  an 
institution  is  to  the  South,  it  would,  at  least,  not  want 
for  means  to  carry  on  its  wonderful  work. 
30 


466  Evidences  of  Progress 

STATE   NORMAL  SCHOOL   FOR    COLORED   PERSONS   AT 
FRANKFORT,    KY. 

The  State  Normal  School  is  situated  about  one  and 
one-half  miles  from  Frankfort  on  a  beautiful  hill 
overlooking  the  city.  The  site  comprises  about 
thirty  acres  of  tillable  land  and  meadow,  upon  which 
are  located  the  main  school  building,  with  recitation- 
room  and  chapel,  a  new  mechanical  shop,  forty  feet 
by  sixty  feet,  with  modern  equipments  and  furnish 
ings,  the  "  Ladies'  Hall,"  recently  built,  and  cottages 
for  the  resident  professors.  Our  students  are  free 
from  the  many  temptations  and  social  demands  inci 
dent  to  those  who  attend  school  in  a  city. 

Our  location,  being  "  elevated,  healthful,  and  de 
lightful,"  renders  our  students  less  liable  to  malaria 
and  other  diseases  due  to  impurities,  both  in  the 
water  and  in  the  atmosphere. 

Nothing  in  our  power  will  be  neglected  which  can 
add  to  the  mental,  moral,  and  manual  training  of  our 
students,  or  which  can  in  the  least  contribute  to  their 
comfort  and  general  welfare. 

"The  object"  of  this  State  Normal  School,  estab 
lished  and  maintained  by  Act  of  the  General  Assem 
bly,  "  shall  be  the  preparation  of  teachers  for  teaching 
in  the  Colored  Public  Schools  of  Kentucky." 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  making  a  visit  to  this 
school,  and  was  very  well  impressed  with  the  institu 
tion.  I  found  there  an  able  body  of  teachers  and  a 
very  fine-looking  and  intelligent  class  of  students. 


Among  Colored  People.  467 

COLORED     NORMAL,    INDUSTRIAL,     AGRICULTURAL    AND 
MECHANICAL    COLLEGE    OF    SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

This  school  is  located  at  Orangeburg,  S.  C.,  and 
in  my  opinion  is  one  of  the  best  State  schools  in  the 
South  for  the  education  of  the  colored  youth.  They 
have  very  excellent  buildings,  not  only  good,  but 
beautiful.  The  course  of  study  there  is,  as  in  all 
State  schools,  normal.  Their  object  is  to  prepare 
teachers  for  the  public  schools  of  the  State.  Many 
students,  however,  attend  there  who  do  not  expect  to 
teach.  Special  attention  is  given  to  the  industrial 
training  of  both  boys  and  girls.  The  wood  shop  has, 
I  think,  about  the  best  equipment  in  the  way  of 
tools  and  up-to-date  machinery  I  saw  in  any  of  the 
Southern  schools.  The  attendance  is  large;  in  fact, 
they  often  have  to  send  students  away  for  want 
of  room.  Hon.  Thos.  E.  Miller,  L.L.  D.,  who  is 
president,  I  found  a  very  pleasant  and  able  man. 
He  is  assisted  by  a  strong  force  of  competent 
teachers,  who  have  been  educated  in  the  best  schools 
of  our  country.  I  am  sure  the  people  at  large  will 
agree  with  me  in  saying  that  South  Carolina  de 
serves  great  credit  for  the  establishment  of  such  an 
excellent  school  for  the  race. 

EDUCATIONAL    WORK    AT    LINCOLN    INSTITUTE. 

Lincoln  Institute,  a  State  Normal,  Collegiate, 
and  Industrial  School  for  Negroes,  with  ten  well 
equipped  departments,  is  admirably  located  at 
Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  and  was  founded  in  1866 
by  funds  contributed  by  the  Sixty-second  and  Sixty- 


468  Evidences  of  Progress 

fifth  regiments  of  United  States  Colored  Infantry 
when  they  were  discharged  from  service  in  the  late 
Civil  War.  In  a  comparatively  short  time  the 
school  was  taken  under  the  care  and  patronage  of 
the  liberal  State  of  Missouri,  and,  as  the  oldest,  best 
equipped  and  most  influential  school  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river  exclusively  for  the  education  of 
Negroes,  affords  most  excellent  opportunities  for 
both  higher  and  industrial  training,  and  through  its 
long  line  of  graduates  has  furnished  Missouri  and 
other  States,  not  only  many  high  grade  teachers,  but, 
in  addition,  many  of  the  leading  lawyers,  physicians, 
and  other  professional  and  business  men  and  women 
of  color,  who,  in  a  most  practical  manner,  are  helping 
to  solve  the  Negro  problem  as  it  presents  itself  in  the 
great  Middle  West  and  Southwest. 

The  campus,  buildings,  and  surroundings — com 
modious,  sightly,  and  modern — are  well  situated  on  a 
height  of  land  that  commands  a  fine  view  of  Jefferson 
City  and  its  picturesque  vicinity  for  miles  around. 
With  such  a  location,  excellent  water,  good  drainage, 
food  well  selected,  and  carefully  prepared ;  with 
athletic  sports  in  which  all  are  encouraged  to  take 
part,  the  health  of  students  and  of  all  connected  with 
the  institution  is  record-breaking  in  its  excellence. 

Entering  now  upon  the  thirty-eighth  year  of  its 
career,  Lincoln  Institute  is  fortunate  in  having  as  its 
administrative  head  a  gentleman  and  scholar  of  wide 
experience  in  educational  matters  in  the  person  of 
President  Benjamin  Franklin  Allen,  A.  M.,  who,  by 
eight  years  spent  as  a  professor  in  one  of  the  most 


Among  Colored  People.  469 

important  departments  of  the  school,  and  for  the 
greater  part  of  this  time  its  vice-president,  brings 
with  him  a  more  than  theoretical  knowlege  of  ex 
isting  conditions,  and  of  both  the  general  and  the 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN    ALLEN,  A.  M. 

specific  needs  of  the  young  people  who  come  under 
his  care  and  guidance.  Earnestly  desirous  of  being 
helpful  to  his  race,  and  believing  most  throughly  in 
a  happy  combination  of  both  higher  and  industrial 
education  as  a  means  of  symmetrical  development, 


Evidences  of  Progress 

President  Allen  leads  out  along  the  most  practical 
lines  of  work,  and  is  rapidly  bringing  the  institution 
to  the  front  as  one  of  the  great  schools  of  the  country. 
"  The  Lincoln  Institute  idea "  is  "progress"  in  the 
fullest  and  highest  significance  of  the  term. 

A  well  prepared  and  enthusiastic  Faculty  ably 
seconds  the  President's  noble  efforts.  Among  the 
men  and  women  composing  it  are  graduates  of  the 
leading  colleges  and  universities  of  the  United 
States.  Presiding  over  the  department  of  Latin  and 
Greek  one  finds  Prof.  J.  H.  Garnett,  A.  M. ; 
Mathematics,  Prof.  J.  S.  Moten,  A.  M. ;  Science,  G. 
S.  Murray,  A.  B. ;  English,  Josephine  Silone-Yates, 
A.  M.  Mrs.  Yates  is  also  President  of  the  National 
Association  of  Colored  Women. 

The  students  are  a  high-minded,  energetic  set  of 
young  people,  many  of  whom  are  making  heroic 
struggles  to  get  an  education ;  and  their  example  of 
working  late  and  early,  in  season  and  out  of  season, 
may  well  be  emulated  by  those  who  daily  are  wast 
ing  golden  opportunities,  and  simply  increasing  the 
numbers  of  mere  "  consumers  ." 

During  his  administration  of  barely  one  year  and  a 
half  President  Allen  already  has  inaugurated  many 
reforms  and  many  new  features  in  the  work  of  the 
institution  ;  but  possibly  no  one  feature  is  destined 
to  be  of  more  practical  value  to  the  Negro  of  this 
section  than  the  "  Farmers'  Convention,"  which,  pur 
suant  to  his  call,  has  now  held  two  very  valuable 
sessions  ;  has  created  much  interest  among  both 
white  and  colored  educators,  and  is  likely  to  prove 


Among  Colored  People.  471 

an  important  and  invaluable  factor  in  developing  an 
agricultural  spirit,  desire  for  the  ownership  of  land, 
and  practical  knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits, 
among  Negroes  who  are  living  in  one  of  the  most 
fertile  areas  of  the  United  States. 

Although  the  buildings  are  State  structures,  much 
of  the  original  work  and  of  the  necessary  repairs 
from  time  to  time  is  done  by  the  students  ;  and  this, 
with  many  other  lines  of  industrial  work  done  on  the 
grounds,  demonstrates  its  practical  value,  both  from 
educational  and  from  utilitarian  points  of  view. 

Many  of  the  graduates  from  the  industrial  depart 
ment,  young  men  and  young  women,  have  found  it 
possible  with  the  knowledge  acquired  in  it  to  set  up 
individual  establishments,  or  secure  lucrative  posi 
tions  of  trust  and  honor  in  their  special  line  of  work. 

The  State  diploma  received  on  graduating  from 
the  four  years'  normal  course  is  a  life  certificate,  and 
is  furnished  by  no  other  school  for  Negroes  in  the 
State  of  Missouri. 

With  its  one  hundred  and  forty-four  counties  and 
its  entirely  separate  system  of  education  for  whites 
and  Negroes,  Missouri  has  a  large  number  of  Negro 
schools,  and  many  of  the  best  teachers  in  the  State 
are  those  who  have  received  their  academic  and  pro 
fessional  training  at  Lincoln  Institute. 

One  great  aim  of  the  institution,  and  one  in  which 
it  seems  admirably  to  have  succeeded,  is  to  develop 
in  its  students  the  power  of  independent  thought  and 
research,  the  desire  and  ability  to  be  continuous 
searchers  after  truth  throughout  life, 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

C.   M.   E.   SCHOOLS. 

IN  this  chapter  I  shall  give  brief  mention  of  the 
schools  managed  by  the  "  Colored  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church  in  America."  The  connection  was 
organized  in  1870,  and  set  apart  from  the  M.  E. 
Church  South.  They  have  at  this  time  five  Bishops, 
namely :  Bishop  Isaac  Lane,  Bishop  J.  A.  Beebe, 
Bishop  L.  H.  Holsey,  D.  D.,  Bishop  R.  S.  Williams, 
D.  D.,  Bishop  Elias  Cottrell,  D.  D. 

The  Rev.  C.  H.  Phillips,  D.  D.,  who  is  mentioned 
on  page  364  as  editor  of  the  Christian  Index,  was  at 
the  last  general  conference  of  the  C.  M.  E.  Church 
elected  as  a  Bishop. 

LANE    COLLEGE. 

Lane  College  is  located  at  Jackson,  Tenn.  It  was 
founded  by  the  Colored  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  America,  and  is  still  under  its  fostering  care.  The 
school  takes  its  name  from  Bishop  Isaac  Lane,  who 
has  been  the  leading  spirit  in  establishing  the  insti 
tution.  The  work  done  at  Lane  College  will  com 
pare  favorably  with  other  schools  in  the  South. 

The  main  building  was  erected  at  cost  of   $15,- 
OOO.     It     is   a    fine     three-story   brick,   with    stone 
trimmings,  artistically  covered  with  malleable  iron, 
with  two  beautiful  lofty  towers. 
(472) 


Among-  Colored  People.  473 

Lane  College,  like  all  institutions,  is  in  need  of 
funds  to  put  the  school  in  excellent  condition.  Any 
one  desiring  to  bless  a  worthy  educational  enterprise 
would  find  the  school  in  great  need  of  means  to 
better  equip  it  for  the  training  of  young  men  and 
women  to  advance  Christian  civilization.  Let  your 
gifts  be  ever  so  small,  they  will  be  duly  credited  and 
rightly  applied. 

Their  wonderful  progress  thus  far  is  largely  attrib 
uted  to  the  untiring  labors  of  Bishop  Isaac  Lane. 

In  addition  to  the  other  branches  of  studies,  and 
recognizing  the  fact  that  the  mind  is  often  cultivated 
at  the  expense  of  the  body,  and  that  trades  are  medi 
ums  through  which  young  men  may  obtain  occupa 
tions,  giving  them  a  capital  to  fall  back  on  should 
they  fail  to  make  practical  what  they  have  learned 
from  books,  industrial  features  are  added.  Girls  will 
be  given  lessons  in  needlework,  cutting,  sewing,  and 
cooking.  Young  men  will  be  given  lessons  in  ele 
ments  of  gardening  and  carpentry. 

An  experienced  teacher  will  have  charge  of  each 
department. 

The  president  of  Lane  College  is  Rev.  T.  F.  San 
ders.  He  is  a  Southern  white  man,  who  has  taken 
up  the  work  in  that  Christian  spirit  which  means  to 
lift  up  humanity  to  a  higher  intellectual  and  spiritual 
condition,  regardless  of  race  or  color. 

Rev.  Robert  T.  Brown,  A.  M.,  is  teacher  of 
language  and  mathematics.  I  regard  Prof.  Brown 
as  a  very  able  man,  and  one  who  desires  very  much 
to  see  his  race  educated  in  order  that  tV*  colored 


474  Evidences  of  Progress 

people  may  take  a  more  active  part  in  the  professional 
and  business  world. 

PAINE   INSTITUTE. 

Paine  Institute  is  another  of  the  C.  M.  E.  Schools. 
It  is  located  at  Augusta,  Ga.  The  school  is  doing 
about  the  same  grade  of  work  as  that  done  at  Lane 
College.  They  have  a  beautiful  brick  structure 
known  as  "  Haygood  Memorial  Hall ;"  it  is  named  in 
honor  of  the  late  Bishop  Haygood  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South,  He  was  far  in  advance  of  the  church 
in  his  desire  to  see  the  colored  people  educated. 
The  bishop  wrote  a  most  excellent  work  on  the  race 
question,  entitled  "  Our  Brother  in  Black."  The  book 
had  a  large  sale  both  North  and  South.  He,  like 
Booker  T.  Washington,  believed  that  the  masses  of 
colored  people  should  have  an  industrial  education. 
But  he  also  recognized  that  those  who  felt  called  to 
teach  or  preach  should  have  the  best  education  they 
could  secure. 

The  president  of  Paine  Institute  is  Rev.  G.  W. 
Walker.  He  is  a  Southern  white  man  who  sees  the 
great  work  that  must  be  done  for  the  colored  people, 
and  is  willing  to  help  do  it.  I  am  told  that  he 
takes  an  active  part  in  everything  that  is  of  interest 
to  the  school  and  scholars,  making  the  students  feel 
that  his  heart  is  in  the  work.  His  family  is  also 
helpful  to  him  in  his  great  effort.  I  hope  it  will  not 
be  many  years  until  a  large  number  of  Southern 
white  people  will  see  the  need  of  just  such  work  as 


Among  Colored  People.  475 

Rev.  Walker  is  doing,  and  be  willing  to  assist  in  the 
labor. 

There  are  a  few  smaller  schools  managed  by  the 
C.  M.  E.  Church,  but  for  want  of  space  we  must 
omit  mention  of  them,  at  least  until  they  are  more 
prominent. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

THIS  chapter  will  be  devoted  to  the  work  of  the 
Christian  Church.  The  schools  operated  by  that 
church  in  the  interest  of  the  race  are  not  as  numer 
ous  nor  as  large  as  other  connectional  institutions, 
but  what  they  have  are  doing  a  splendid  work. 

FRANKLINTON    CHRISTIAN    COLLEGE. 

Franklinton  Christian  College  is  situated  in  Frank- 
linton,  Franklin  County,  North  Carolina,  on  the  Sea 
board  Air-Line  Railroad,  twenty-seven  miles  north 
east  from  the  city  of  Raleigh.  The  college  buildings 
are  on  high  ground,  which  is  well  drained;  and  there 
is  a  grove  of  beautiful  oak  trees  on  the  campus, 
which,  with  other  immediate  surroundings,  makes 
the  location  one  of  special  attraction. 

The  college  entered  on  its  mission  of  education  in 
1878  as  a  common  school.  Professor  Henry  E. 
Long  was  placed  in  charge,  and  the  interest  taken  in 
the  new  movement  by  the  colored  people  was  so 
general  that  an  assistant  teacher  was  employed  to  aid 
Professor  Long  in  his  work.  In  1880  Rev.  George 
Young,  of  Carlisle,  New  York,  was  appointed  prin 
cipal  of  the  school,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  J. 
P.  Watson,  D.  D.,  who  was  at  that  time  Secretary  of 
the  Children's  Mission.  It  was  during  the  first  year 
(476) 


Among  Colored  People.  477 

of  Professor  Young's  administration  of  the  school 
that  the  college  building  was  erected  and  the  school 
formally  opened  under  the  name,  "  The  Franklinton 
Theological  and  Literary  Institute."  The  institute 
remained  under  the  supervision  of  the  Secretary  of 
Missions  until  the  meeting  of  the  American  Christian 
Convention  in  1886.  The  convention  at  that  meet 
ing  received  the  institute  to  its  care,  and  appointed  a 
board  of  control  to  take  direct  supervision  of  its 
work  and  interests.  The  Board  of  Control  obtained 
a  charter  for  the  institute  in  1890,  and  its  name  was 
changed  to  Franklinton  Christian  College.  In  this, 
its  corporate  name,  the  college  has  authority  to  give 
diplomas  and  confer  degrees.  It  may  be  said  of  the 
college  that  its  work  has  from  the  first  been  progress 
ive  in  character.  Its  constant  aim  has  been  to  assist 
the  student  to  high  moral  and  intellectual,  attain 
ments. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  course  of  studies  taught 
they  have  some  industrial  work  in  the  way  of  sewing 
and  fancy  work  for  the  girls,  and  it  is  hoped  that  this 
department  will  soon  be  extended  to  include  all  that 
is  essential  to  good  housekeeping  and  home  decora 
tion.  Rev.  Zenas  A.  Poste  is  president,  and  is  as 
sisted  by  five  other  teachers. 

THE    LOUISVILLE    CHRISTIAN    BIBLE   SCHOOL 

Is  a  missionary  school,  inaugurated  by  the  General 
Christian  Missionary  Convention,  now  the  American 
Christian  Missionary  Society :  Headquarters,  Cincin^ 
nati,  Ohio,  and  under  the  immediate  supervision  of 


47  8  Evidences  of  Progress 

the  Board  of  Negro  Education  and  Evangelization : 
Headquarters,  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

While  it  is  not  the  present  purpose  of  the  school 
to  maintain  classes  in  those  branches  of  study  which 
do  not  properly  constitute  part  of  a  theological 
course  in  English  ;  yet,  to  meet  the  needs  of  such 
students  as  have  not  had  the  advantage  of  proper  in 
struction  in  the  subjects  of  Course  I,  classes  will  be 
maintained,  continuously  in  a  number  of  them,  and 
in  others  will  be  formed  from  time  to  time  as  the 
necessity  may  arise. 

The  purpose  of  the  school  is  to  do  what  it  can  in 
supplying  one  of  the  greatest  needs  of  the  colored 
people  of  this  county,  namely,  preachers  and  other 
religious  workers  of  their  own  race,  who  shall  be 
deeply  imbued  with  the  knowledge  and  spirit  of  the 
Word  of  God.  In  doing  this  work  it  is  not  the.  aim 
of  the  school  to  give  extended  courses  of  instruction 
in  anything  save  in  the  English  Scriptures.  These 
it  proposes  to  teach  as  thoroughly  as  possible  to  col 
ored  candidates  for  the  ministry,  whether,  in  the  com 
mon  use  of  the  terms,  such  candidates  be  educated  or 
uneducated. 

Adoniram  Judson  Thomson,  A.  M.,  is  principal. 
He  impressed  me  as  a  very  fine  man,  who  is  much 
interested  in  the  elevation  of  the  colored  people. 
Prof.  Thomson  is  assisted  by  Prof.  Octavius  Single 
ton,  B.  L.,  who  is  a  very  able  young  man  and  a  credit 
to  the  race. 

THE  SOUTHERN  CHRISTIAN  INSTITUTE. 

The  plantation  upon  which  the  Southern  Christian 


Among  Colored  People.  479 

Institute  is  located  contains  eight  hundred  acres  of 
land,  being  a  mile  and  a  quarter  long  by  a  mile  wide. 
It  is  located  on  the  Big  Black  River,  on  the  direct 
road  between  Jackson  and  Vicksburg,  being  twenty- 
five  miles  from  the  former  and  eighteen  miles  from 
the  latter.  It  is  two  miles  from  Edwards,  which  is 
its  postoffice.  The  name  of  the  plantation  is  Mount 
Beulah.  The  Vicksburg  and  Meridian  Railroad 
passes  directly  through  the  plantation,  in  which  there 
is  a  flag  station.  It  is  only  six  miles  from  the  famous 
battlefield  of  Champion  Hill,  and  Pemberton's  sol 
diers  retreated  directly  across  it ;  and  the  battle  of 
the  "  Big  Black  "  was  fought  partly  upon  it.  The 
east  end  of  the  plantation  is  rolling,  containing  most 
of  the  timber  and  all  the  buildings  connected  with  the 
institution :  the  old  plantation  building,  to  which  has 
been  added  the  dining-room,  kitchen  and  office,  and 
a  girls'  dormitory;  a  separate  building  for  school- 
house  and  boys'  dormitory ;  a  barn  and  eight  cabins, 
six  of  which  are  located  at  this  end  of  the  plantation. 
The  timber  is  nearly  all  of  the  hard-wood  variety, 
such  as  oak,  hickory,  sweet  gum,  beech,  etc.  All 
rough-bark  trees  are  covered  with  long  festoons  of 
Spanish  moss.  This  part  of  the  plantation  has  a 
beautiful  situation  on  a  bluff,  which  rises  about  fifty 
feet  from  the  river.  The  western  part  of  the  planta 
tion,  containing  about  five  hundred  acres,  is  level, 
but  is  located  in  what  is  called  the  second  river 
bottom,  and  hence  is  never  overflowed. 

The  plantation   contains  such   fertile  soil,  and   has 


4&3  Evidences  of  Progress 

such  a  location,  that  all  the  crops  that  are  raised   in 
the  North  can  be  raised  here  to  advantage. 

J.  B.  Lehman,  President,  has  six  assistant  teachers, 
while  A.  T.  Ross  is  superintendent  of  Industrial  De 
partment,  and  Mrs.  A.  T.  Ross  is  matron  of  the  in 
stitution.  The  enrollment  of  the  school  now  reaches 
125.  We  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  it  will 
be  much  larger  the  coming  year.  The  course  of  in 
struction  is  divided  into  Primary,  Normal,  Classical, 
Biblical,  and  Industrial  Departments.  The  Industrial 
Department  includes  practical  housekeeping,  sewing, 
broom-making,  the  making  of  molasses  from  sugar 
cane,  farming,  fruit-canning,  carpentry,  and  printing, 
and  the  new  machinery  plant  will  add  new  industries. 

THE  LUM  GRADED  SCHOOL  AT  LUM,  ALA. 

The  Lum  Graded  School  was  started  four  years 
ago,  with  Robert  Brooks  as  principal.  Robert 
Brooks  was  educated  at  the  Southern  Christian  Insti 
tute,  completing  the  full  course  there.  He  took  the 
Alabama  teachers'  examination,  receiving  the  highest 
certificate  given,  and  then  returned  to  his  home  in 
Lowndes  County,  Alabama,  and  opened  a  school  in 
a  miserabe  shanty  at  Lum.  In  this  undertaking  he 
was  encouraged  and  directed,  and  to  a  small  extent 
aided  financially,  by  the  Board  of  Negro  Education 
and  Evangelization.  The  school  having  this  humble 
origin  is  now  known  to  us  and  through  all  the  section 
of  the  country  where  it  is  located  as  "  The  Lum 
Graded  School,"  and  last  year  enrolled  one  hundred 
and  eleven  pupils. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

COLEMAN  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY,  AN  ORGANIZA 
TION  CHARTERED  UNDER  THE  LAWS  OF  NORTH 
CAROLINA,  TO  DO  BUSINESS  OF  ALL  KINDS  OF 
MANUFACTURING. 

CAN  the  negro  race  successfully  own  and  operate 
cotton  mills  ?  This  question,  so  long  in  doubt,  is 
about  to  be  answered,  and  we  believe  in  the  affirma 
tive.  The  first  great  stride  in  that  direction  was 
taken  when,  on  the  8th  of  February,  1898,  was  laid 
with  Masonic  honors  the  corner-stone  of  the  hand 
some  three-story  brick  building,  80x120  feet  in 
dimensions,  of  the  Coleman  cotton  mill.  It  was 
indeed  a  marked  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  negro 
race,  and  pronounced  by  all  present  an  entire  success. 
Noted  speakers  from  all  over  the  United  States  were 
invited,  and  the  railroads  gave  reduced  rates  from  all 
points.  Following  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  was 
the  annual  election  of  old  officers,  who  are  as  follows  : 
R.  B.  Fitzgerald,  of  Durham,  N.  C,  president;  E.  A. 
Johnson,  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  vice-president;  and  W. 
C.  Coleman,  of  Concord,  N.  C.,  secretary  and  treas 
urer.  The  following  gentlemen  constitute  the  Board 
of  Directors :  Rev.  S.  C.  Thompson,  Camden,  S.  C; 
L.  P.  Berry,  Statesville,  N.  C. ;  John  C.  Dancy,  Salis 
bury,  N.  C. ;  Prof.  S.  B.  Pride,  Charlotte,  N.  C. ;  Prof. 
31  (481) 


4$  2  Evidences  of  Progress 

C.  F.  Meserve,  Raleigh,  N.  C. ;  and  Robert  McRee, 
Concord,  N.  C.  Among  these  are  some  of  the 
highest  lights  of  the  negro  race,  and  under  their 
careful  direction  we  have  no  doubts  as  to  the  final 
results  of  the  enterprise.  The  promoter  of  this  en- 


WARREN   C.    COLEMAN. 


terprise,  W.  C.  Coleman,  is  the  wealthiest  negro  in 
the  State,  and  he  has  rallied  around  him  not  only  the 
leaders  of  his  race,  but  has  the  endorsement  of  many 
of  the  most  successful  financiers  among  our  white 
citizens  throughout  the  State. 


Among  Colored  People.  483 

The  mill  is  to  have  from  7,000  to  10,000  spindles, 
and  from  100  to  250  looms,  and,  by  their  charter,  will 
be  allowed  to  spin,  weave,  manufacture,  finish,  and 
sell  warps,  yarns,  cloth,  prints,  or  other  fabrics  made 
of  cotton,  wool,  or  other  material.  They  own  at 
present,  in  connection  with  the  plant,  about  IOO  acres 
of  land  on  the  main  line  of  the  Southern  Railway,  and 
near  the  site  of  the  mill.  The  mill  and  machinery 
with  all  the  fixtures  complete  will  represent  an  outlay 
of  nearly  $66,000,  and  will  give  employment  to  a 
number  of  hands.  The  building  is  now  completed 
and  ready  for  machinery. 

Let  us  add  that  Concord  has  reason  to  and  does 
feel  proud  of  the  fact  that  she  has  the  only  cotton  mill 
in  the  world  owned,  conducted,  and  operated  by  the 
negro  race. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  directors  recently  the  capital 
stock  was  increased  $50,000,  and  those  wishing  a 
good  safe  investment  should  secure  some  of  this 
stock.  The  mill  will  be  under  good  and  safe  man 
agement,  and  will,  no  doubt,  be  a  paying  institution. 

Special  inducements  will  be  offered  to  any  party  or 
parties  who  desire  to  establish  enterprises  that  colored 
labor  may  be  employed.  Full  particulars  can  be 
obtained  from  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  W.  C. 
Coleman,  Concord,  N.  C. 

When  the  Coleman  Manufacturing  Company  de 
monstrates  to  the  world,  as  it  will,  that  colored  girls 
can  weave  cloth,  and  that  this  enterprise  is  a  paying 
one,  there  will  be  other  men  who  will  start  similar 
institutions  throughout  the  South.  I  am  sure  that  my 


4^4 


Evidences  of  Progress 


readers  will  read  this  article  with  more  race  pride  than 
they  have  ever  felt  before  when  they  realize  that,  while 
they  read  it,  cloth  is  being  woven  by  colored  girls. 
This  cotton  mill,  which  is  the  result  of  Mr.  Coleman's 
push  and  energy,  will  give  the  colored  man  a  stand 
ing  in  the  business  world  he  has  never  had  before, 
and  will  be.  indeed,  helpful. 

Warren   C.  Coleman  is  a  most  remarkable  man, 


COLEMAN    COTTON    MILL. 


starting  as  he  did  from  slavery,  without  money  or 
education  ;  in  fact,  he  only  had  one  term  of  school 
ing  in  Howard  University  j  Washington,  D.  C.  Mr. 
Coleman  has  for  years  operated  a  successful  grocery 
store.  He  has  met  with  heavy  losses,  caused  by  fire, 
to  the  amount  of  several  thousand  dollars.  Many  a 
man  would  have  given  up  with  the  idea  that  fate  was 


against   him. 


Mr. 


Coleman   is   one   of   the    largest 


Among  Colored  People.  485 

owners  of  real  estate  in  Concord.  He  also  operates 
several  farms  in  that  county.  He  has  educated  out 
of  his  resources  a  number  of  young  colored  men  and 
women.  Mr.  Coleman  is  doubtless  one  of  the  richest 
colored  men  in  the  United  States. 

The  Southern  Age,  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  on  February  6, 
1897,  among  other  things,  says  of  W.  C.  Coleman: 
"  The  greatness  of  the  man  appears  particularly  in 
the  way  he  makes  obstacles  and  difficulties  helps  and 
not  hindrances.  He  will  rank  with  Abraham  Lincoln 
as  their  practical  friend  and  benefactor.  One  gave 
them  freedom — the  other  will  give  them  an  indus 
trial  position." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

RICHMOND,    VA. 

THIS  chapter  is  devoted  to  the  business  interests  of 


REV.    W.    F.    GRAHAM,    PRESIDENT. 

the  colored  people  in  Richmond,  and  I  am  sure  my 
readers  will  find  it  a  valuable  addition  to  my  book. 
(486) 


Among  Colored  People. 


487 


RICHMOND     BENEFICIAL     AND       INSURANCE     COMPANY, 
CAPITAL    STOCK    $5,OOO. 

In    July,   1894,  a    company    of  twenty    men    v-as 
formed   and    began    this    work    with    $200. 


MR.    JOHN   T.    TAYLOR,  SECRETARY. 

started  against  many  odds;  their  chief  opposers  were 
the  agents  of  white  insurance  companies. 

Three  years  have  told  the  story.  They  now  have 
a  membership  of  15,000,  and  employ  seventy  persons 
as  managers,  clerks,  and  agents.  They  own  their 


488  Evidences  of  Progress 

own  property,  a  handsome  three-story  building, 
valued  at  $6,000,  and  every  cent  of  it  paid  for.  The 
worth  of  the  company  is  $13,000.  They  are  begin 
ning  to  branch  out  in  all  cities  of  Virginia,  and  are 
very  cautious  and  careful  with  their  money,  their  in 
tention  being  the  founding  of  an  organization  that 
shall  "  stay  "  permanently,  and  are  doing  a  business 
now  of  $30,000  yearly. 

Rev.  W.  F.  Graham,  the  founder  and  president  of 
this  company,  was  born  of  slave  parents,  in  the  State 
of  Mississippi,  attended  school  in  Arkansas,  and  fin 
ished  at  Wayland  Seminary,  Washington,  D.  C.  He 
is  also  pastor  of  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  Baptist 
churches  in  the  South,  and  is  what  I  regard  as  a 
splendid  type  of  manhood. 

Mr.  John  T.  Taylor  is  secretary  and  business  man 
ager  for  the  company.  Mr.  Taylor  taught  school  for 
several  years,  and  gave  up  that  work  to  accept  his 
present  position.  He  is  regarded  as  a  very  compe 
tent  and  energetic  business  man. 

WILLIAM    ISAAC   JOHNSON. 

Richmond  has  one  of  the  most  successful  colored 
undertakers  in  the  country  in  the  person  of  William 
Isaac  Johnson.  His  place  of  business  and  residence 
is  located  at  207  Fonshee  Street.  Mr.  Johnson  owns 
a  magnificent  brick  building,  three  stories  high.  The 
basement  is  used  for  his  workshop  and  stables  for  his 
horses.  The  ground  floor  is  used  as  an  office  and 
storeroom  for  ready-made  coffins  and  trimmings. 
The  second  story  is  used  as  a  residence  for  his  family, 


Among  Colored  People.  489 

and  the  third  story  is  divided  into  lodge-rooms,  which 
are  rented  to  different  colored  societies  that  hold 
monthly  meetings  there. 

The  horses  and  hearse,  also  the  carriages,  used  in 
Mr.  Johnson's  business  are  as  fine  as  any  owned  by 
the  leading  white  undertakers  in  Richmond.  I  found 
him  a  pleasant  and  a  very  thorough  business  man. 

A.  D.  PRICE. 

Mr.  A.  D.  Price,  of  Richmond,  is  also  an  under 
taker,  who  owns  good  horses,  hearse,  and  carriages 
for  his  work. 

PAUL   C.    EASLEY. 

Mr.  Paul  C.  Easley  has  an  ice-cream  parlor,  also 
manages  a  steam  ice-cream  manufactory,  and  has  a 
large  trade,  both  wholesale  and  retail. 

THOMPSON   &    BENSON. 

One  of  the  best  drug  stores  owned  by  colored  men 
in  the  country  is  at  Richmond,  carried  on  by  Thomp 
son  &  Benson,  two  young  and  intelligent  men,  who 
are  both,  as  the  result  of  a  splendid  education,  com 
petent  to  manage  just  what  they  have — a  splendid 
drug  store.  I  was  very  much  impressed  with  the 
cleanliness,  neatness,  and  perfect  system  that  I  found 
throughout  the  entire  building.  Of  all  places  that 
ought  to  be  clean  and  neat  is  a  drug  store. 

G.    W.    BRAGG. 

Richmond  Steam  Laundry  is  owned  by  G.  W. 
Bragg,  a  very  progressive  colored  man,  who  has,  be« 


49°  Evidences  of  Progress 

yond  doubt,  the  largest  and  best-equipped  steam 
laundry  owned  by  a  colored  man  in  the  United  States. 
Every  modern  machine  for  doing  first-class  laundry 
work  can  be  seen  at  his  establishment.  He  employs 
the  most  intelligent  colored  girls  he  can  secure,  and 
has  so  far  had  but  very  little  trouble  in  teaching  them 
to  handle  the  different  machines.  I  am  pleased  to 
note  also  that  his  patrons  are  made  up  of  the  best 
white  families  in  Richmond.  Mr.  Bragg  has  a 
brother  in  Farmville,  Va. ,  who  also  owns  a  laundry, 
but  on  a  much  smaller  scale. 

NICKEL   SAVINGS    BANK, 

at  601  North  Thirtieth  Street,  Richmond,  Va,,  is  a 
splendid  enterprise,  that  has  been  put  on  foot  by  such 
men  as  Rev.  Evans  Payne,  R.  F.  Tancil,  Rev.  W.  S. 
Christian,  E.  A.  Washington,  Anderson  Evans,  R.  J. 
Bass,  J.  Henry  Jones,  who  are  the  board  of  directors. 
In  order  that  my  readers  may  get  some  idea  of  the 
method  adopted  by  the  Nickel  Savings  Bank,  I  re 
produce  some  matter  that  appeared  on  a  circular 
handed  me  by  the  cashier: 

"  The  bank  safe  is  a  nickel-plated  brass  bank,  with 
combination  lock,  and  is  highly  ornamental  and  con 
venient.  All  sizes  of  coin  or  paper  money  can  be 
put  into  it. 

"  These  banks  are  loaned  to  anyone  free  of  charge 
who  has  or  will  deposit  $1.50  with  us  (for  which  we 
give  a  pass-book) ;  it  being  understood  that  if  you 
lose  the  bank,  or  fail  to  return  it  in  reasonably  good 
condition  when  we  call  for  it,  we  charge  you  $1.50 


Among  Colored  People.  491 

for  the  box,  but  you  may  return  it  at  any  time  and 
get  all  the  money  you  have  on  deposit.  It  is  under 
stood  that  in  consideration  of  our  loaning  you  a  bank 
free  of  charge  you  will  deposit  your  savings  with 
us  once  in  three  months  or  oftener. 

"  Money  deposited  in  this  safe  can  be  taken  out 
only  at  the  Nickel  Savings  Bank,  as  they  keep  the 
key.  When  brought  to  us  the  safe  is  opened  and  the 
amount  is  counted  in  your  presence,  and  placed  to 
your  credit  on  your  pass-book. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  best  plans  ever  devised  for  en 
couraging  economy  and  frugality  in  children,  as 
money  once  placed  in  the  safe  cannot  be  taken  out 
except  at  our  bank,  and  there  it  must  be  deposited. 
At  the  same  time  it  gives  a  child  valuable  business 
experience,  and  the  first  lessons  of  economy  are  more 
easily  learned  if  the  savings  are  for  some  fixed  or 
definite  purpose. 

"  Laboring  men  and  women  who  are  able  to  lay 
aside  a  small  amount  daily  or  weekly  will  find  these 
safes  the  most  convenient  and  effectual  means  jof 
accomplishing  that  end." 

My  object  in  reproducing  a  part  of  their  circular;  is 
to  furnish  the  matter  that  it  may  be  the  incentive  or 
suggestion  to  people  in  other  cities  to  start  similar 
institutions  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor. 

THE    PLANET. 

The  Planet,  published  by  John  Mitchell,  Jr., 
has,  without  doubt,  the  largest  circulation  of  any 
paper  published  by  a  colored  man.  Had  the  South 


492  Evidences  of  Progress 

a  few  more  men  who  are  as  brave  as  John  Mitchell 
has   shown   himself,   the    lynchings   of   the    South 


THE  PLANET  BUILDING. 


would  not  have  been  so  numerous.  The  Planet 
has  not  only  the  largest  circulation,  but  The  Planet 
office  is  the  best-equipped  printing  establishment 


Among  Colored  People.  493 

owned  by  a  colored  man  in  this  country.  Mr. 
Mitchell  has  recently  purchased  a  dwelling-house 
at  311  North  Fourth  Street,  Richmond,  Va.,  and  had 
the  house  entirely  made  over  to  suit  his  purpose. 

John  Mitchell,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Henrico  County, 
Va.,  about  three  miles  from  Richmond,  Va.,  at  a  place 
called  Laburnum.  His  parents  were  slaves.  He  at 
tended  the  public  schools  of  Richmond,  and  grad 
uated  from  the  Richmond  Normal  School,  June  14, 
1 88 1,  with  the  highest  honors.  He  received  a  gold 
medal  for  scholarship,  and  was  awarded  a  special 
gold  medal  for  excellence  in  map-drawing.  He 
taught  public  school  in  Fredericksburgh,  Va.,  two 
years,  and  also  in  those  of  Richmond  one  year.  His 
editorial  career  began  in  1884.  He  has  made  a 
specialty  of  lynchings  and  Southern  outrages,  etc. 
His  efforts  to  prevent  the  hanging  of  Simon  Walker, 
a  fifteen-year-old  colored  boy,  was  crowned  with  suc 
cess.  He  was  threatened  with  hanging  if  he  visited 
Charlotte  County,  Va.  His  bold  reply  in  the  columns 
of  the  Richmond  Planet,  supplemented  by  the  arming 
of  himself  and  going  alone  into  the  county  and  visit 
ing  the  scene  of  the  lynching  of  the  unfortunate 
Richard  Walker,  caused  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W. 
Simmons  to  denominate  him  the  "bravest  Negro  ed- 

o 

itor  on  the  continent." 

Mr.  Mitchell  secured  the  release  of  Isaac  Jenkins 
in  1893,  the  colored  man  who  was  beaten,  shot,  and 
hanged,  but  still  lives.  His  last  great  feat  was  th? 
saving  of  the  lives  of  the  three  Lunenburg  County 
women,  who  were  charged  with  the  murder  of  Mrs. 


494  Evidences  of  Progress 

Lucy  Jam.  Pollard,  near  Fort  Mitchell,  Va.  Gov 
ernor  O'Fei/all  used  the  troops  of  the  State  to  pre 
vent  their  lynching,  and  editor  Mitchell  employed 


JOHN    MITCHELL,    JR. 


Hon.  Geo.  D.  Wise,  Hon.  A.  B.  Guigon,  and  Hon.  H. 
W.  Flournoy  to  defend  them.  The  women — Pokey 
and  Mary  Barnes  and  Mary  Abernathy — were  ac 
quitted  and  now  reside  in  this  city. 


Among  Colored  People. 


495 


The  Richmond  Planet  continues  its  crusade  against 
these  outrages. 

In  February,  1897,  the  present  building,  in  which 
the  plant  is  now  located,  was  purchased,  and  with  the 
improvements  cost  $5,000.  The  presses,  type,  en- 


MR.    J     C.    FARLEY. 

gine,  stereotype  outfit,  cost  $4,000.     The  office  force 
consists  of  fifteen  persons. 

J.    C.    FARLEY. 

J.  C.  Farley,  the  well-known  colored  photographer 


496  Evidences  of  Progress 

of  Richmond,  Va.,  was  born  in  Prince  Edward 
County,  Va.,  August  10,  1854.  He  came  to  Rich 
mond  in  1 86 1  and  engaged  in  the  bakery  business. 
He  entered  the  photographic  establishment  of  C.  R. 
Rees  &  Co.  in  1872.  He  left  there  and  labored  in 
the  service  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Davis,  with  whom  he  re 
mained  until  1895.  It  was  while  there  that  he  be 
came  the  operator,  his  rare  talent  winning  for  him 
commendation  and  promotion  from  his  employer. 
He  has  been  for  years  one  of  the  most  accom 
plished  photographers  in  the  South,  his  work  rank 
ing  with  that  of  the  best  artists  in  this  country  and 
Europe. 

In  August,  1895,  he  entered  into  the  photographic 
business  for  himself,  under  the  style  and  title  of  the 
Jefferson  Fine  Art  Gallery,  and  is  at  present  conduct 
ing  a  profitable  business  upon  the  most  fashionable 
business  thoroughfare  in  Richmond.  Some  of  the 
leading  society  and  business  leaders  in  the  State  have 
sought  Mr.  Farley  in  order  to  secure  the  benefit  of 
his  truly  wonderful  ability. 

He  married  Miss  Rebecca  P.  Roberts,  of  Amelia 
County,  Va.,  in  1876,  and  has  a  promising  family  of 
seven  girls. 

T.    C.    JOHNSON. 

Among  the  colored  lawyers  at  Richmond,  Va.,  is 
Mr.  T.  C.  Johnson,  who  was  born  of  slave  parents. 
He  attended  Springfield  (Mass.)  Institute,  then  read 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Mr.  Johnson  has 
an  office  in  both  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  Va.  He 
has  the  honor  of  being  the  local  attorney  for  two 


Among  Colored  People.  49? 

large  white  companies  doing  business  in  Richmond, 
which  is  another  evidence  of  the  fact  that  a  colored 
man  can  do  business  in  the  South  with  white  people. 

THE   TRUE    REFORMERS, 

Mention  will   be  found   of  this  order   in  Chapter 
XXI.  of  this  publication. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

'  .-  ,      :'     '  j  ~i  '  '    ~ 

HERE  AND   THERE. 

IN  this  chapter  it  is  my  purpose  to  mention,  some 
men  and  women  engaged  in  different  lines  of  business 
throughout  the  country. 

MR.  E.  H.   DIBBLE. 

Mr.  Dibble  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  is  at 
present  operating  a  large  store  in  Camden,  S.  C., 
where  he  keeps  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  boots,  shoes, 
fancy  and  family  groceries.  Aside  from  the  store  he 
owns  he  also  has  an  interest  in  another  one  in  the 
same  town,  which  is  operated  by  his  brother.  The 
patrons  at  either  one  of  the  stores  are  not  all  colored 
by  any  means,  but  a  large  percentage  of  their  trade 
comes  from  a  splendid  class  of  white  people.  My 
object  in  making  mention  of  so  many  men  engaged 
in  business  in  the  South  is  to  stimulate  among  my 
readers,  and  especially  in  the  North,  a  determination 
to  at  least  make  some  effort  along  that  line. 

ROBERT    G.    WALKER. 

Robert  G.  Walker,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  is  a  car 
penter  and  contractor  the  race  may  be  proud  of.  He 
was  born  in  Ohio.  At  one  time  he  was  the  leading 

(498) 


Among  Colored  People.  499 

contractor  of  Hill  City,  Kansas,  and  gave  employment 
to  fourteen  men  as  carpenters.  He  built  the  court 
house,  jail,  and  many  of  the  store  buildings.  He 
also  served  there  as  city  clerk.  He  returned  to 
Springfield  because  of  hard  times  in  the  West,  and 
began  contracting  for  himself  after  working  a  while 
as  foreman  for  a  white  contractor.  Mr.  Walker  has 
built  some  of  the  finest  houses  in  Springfield  owned 
by  white  people.  He  is  very  much  thought  of  by  his 
race  and  the  better  class  of  the  whites. 

JAMES    NELSON, 

manufacturer  of  "  IXL  "  and  Whiteley  plows,  two  and 
four-horse  wagons,  carts,  etc.,  in  Springfield,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Nelson  was  born  a  slave  in  the  State  of  Kentucky, 
and  learned  his  trade  as  blacksmith  while  a  slave. 
He  has  carried  on  a  business  in  Springfield  for  him 
self,  with  a  great  deal  of  success,  for  quite  a  number 
of  years.  He  bought  out  the  entire  right  to  manu 
facture  the  "IXL"  and  Whiteley  plows,  and  has 
very  much  improved  the  plow  and  worked  up  a  splen 
did  sale  for  it,  principally  throughout  the  various 
Middle,  Western,  and  Southern  States. 

He  also  makes  a  specialty  of  manufacturing  an  iron 
tank-wagon,  used  by  men  who  are  in  the  oil  business 
and  deliver  oil  from  house  to  house.  He  has  shipped 
these  tank-wagons  to  several  of  the  different  States. 

JOHN    H.    ANDERSON. 

John  H.  Anderson,  of  Urbana,  Ohio,  is  the  leading 
contractor  and  builder  of  that  city.  He  has  had  and 


500  Evidences  of  Progress 

finished  some  very  large  contracts.  He  built  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  in  Piqua,  Ohio,  also  a  beautiful 
passenger  station  at  same  place.  Mr.  Anderson  had 
a  contract  to  build  a  factory  in  Urbana  that  cost  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  His  finest  work,  he  says, 
was  done  on  a  residence  in  Urbana  that  cost  forty 
thousand  dollars.  Most  of  the  men  employed  by  Mr. 
Anderson  are  white;  but  whenever  he  can  secure  a 
good  workman  among  colored  men,  he  is  only  too 
glad  to  give  him  work.  I  regard  him  as  one  of  the 
leading  colored  contractors  in  the  country. 

CAPTAIN    HENRY. 

Mr.  Henry,  of  Pocomoke  City,  Md.,  better  known 
as  "  Captain  Henry,"  owns  several  sailing  vessels  that 
are  manned  by  colored  men,  which  he  operates  be 
tween  Pocomoke  City,  Md.,  and  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
He  ships  large  cargoes  of  wood,  used  in  Philadelphia 
for  fuel.  Mr.  Henry  also  has  a  large  dry  goods  and 
grocery  store  in  Pocomoke  City. 

MR.  'GEORGE  H.  WHITE. 

Mr.  George  H.  White,  of  Staunton,  Va.,  has  a  large 
and  well-stocked  grocery  store,  and  very  nearly  all  of 
his  patrons  are  white.  He  was  born  a  slave  in  Vir 
ginia,  and  spent  the  early  part  of  his  life  at  the  black 
smith  trade.  He  has  been  in  the  grocery  business 
since  1892,  and  his  trade  has  been  growing  larger 
ever  since.  He  owns  a  beautiful  home  and  has  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  the  best  citizens,  both  white 
and  colored. 


Among  Colored  People.  501 

FRANK  T.   WARE. 

Frank  T.  Ware  was  born  a  slave  at  Staunton,  Va.i 
May  15,  1843.  His  master  "hired  him  out"  until 
1860,  when  he  was  sold  to  Negro  traders,  who  took 
him  to  Vicksburgh,  Miss.  There  he  served  as 
dining-room  waiter  until  the  beginning  of  the  war. 
He  was  then  taken  as  a  body  servant  into  the  Con 
federate  Army,  but  was  soon  captured  by  the  Federal 
troops.  He  then  became  a  soldier  in  the  Union 
Army,  and  rose  to  the  position  of  orderly  sergeant 
and  continued  as  such  until  the  war  closed.  He  then 
came  back  to  Staunton  and  went  into  the  express 
business,  which  he  followed  for  twelve  years.  Next 
he  embarked  into  the  hardware  and  furniture  business, 
and  is  now  said  to  be  the  leading  colored  man  in  that 
line  of  business  in  the  United  States.  His  store  is 
three  stories  high  and  is  packed  from  bottom  to  top. 
It  is  in  the  business  center  of  Staunton.  His  race  iden 
tity  is  no  barrier  to  his  success.  He  buys  from  the 
best  firms  in  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  Richmond, 
and  a  large  number  of  his  customers  are  of  his  own 
race,  but  the  bulk  of  his  patrons  are  the  white  people 
of  this  city  and  adjoining  counties.  Scrupulously 
honest  in  his  dealings,  he  has  won  an  enviable  busi 
ness  reputation  and  enjoys  the  implicit  confidence  of 
all.  He  is  a  man  of  means  and  influence,  and  every 
good  cause  receives  his  aid. 

MR.    A    R.    COOPER. 

Mr.  A.  R.  Cooper,  of  Findley,  Ohio,  has  invented  a 
strictly  water-proof  shoe.      Manufacturers  of  shoes 


502  Evidences  of  Progress 

have  always  claimed  to  make  them  water-proof,  but 
who  ever  wore  them  ?  Mr.  Cooper  is  a  practical 
shoemaker,  and  for  a  long  time  has  been  giving  this 
matter  serious  thought  and  consideration,  until  now 
his  efforts  have  been  rewarded  by  the  invention  of 
this  shoe.  It  is  not  only  guaranteed  by  the  maker 
to  be  water-proof,  but  also  protects  the  foot  from 
any  dampness  whatever.  The  shoe  will  be  easier, 
warmer,  and  cheaper  than  the  ordinary  make. 

ROBERT   ORRICK. 

Robert  Orrick  owns  the  largest  livery,  sale, 
and  feed  stable  in  the  city  of  Winchester,  Va.  Mr. 
Orrick  was  born  a  slave.  He  began  business  for 
himself  in  1859,  which  was  before  freedom  was 
granted.  This  he  did  by  paying  to  his  master  a  cer 
tain  amount  of  money  for  his  time.  He  married  a 
freeborn  woman,  and  as  a  slave  could  not  transact 
any  business,  all  business  matters  had  to  be  done  in 
his  wife's  name.  The  amount  named  for  his  time  by 
his  owner  was  $65  per  year.  His  first  business  ven 
ture  was  hauling  baggage  and  freight,  and  by  degrees 
his  work  developed  into  a  regular  livery  business. 
He  now  owns  forty  horses  and  some  forty-five  dif 
ferent  kinds  of  vehicles.  His  residence  and  stable 
join,  and  are  valued  at  about  ten  thousand  dollars. 
In  the  country  he  has  two  farms  of  three  hundred 
acres,  valued  at  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre. 

MR.    N.    T.    GANT. 

Mr.  N.  T.  Gant,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  is  a  very  in- 


Among  Colored  People.  503 

teresting  man ;  looks  enough  like  the  late  Frederick 
Douglass  to  pass  for  his  brother.  Mr.  Gant  was  born 
a  slave  in  Virginia.  He  bought  his  own  and  wife's 
freedom.  For  his  wife  he  paid  fifteen  hundred  dol 
lars.  He  moved  to  Zanesville  before  the  war,  and 
began  life  as  a  truck  farmer.  He  made  money  like 
magic,  and  owns  several  farms  now,  after  giving 
all  of  his  children  good  homes.  The  property  now 
used  as  "  Gant  Park  "  was  sold  by  him  for  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  with  the  understanding  that  no 
intoxicating  drinks  were  to  be  sold  on  the  ground. 
His  residence  in  Zanesville  was  a  part  of  the  park. 
He  has  one  of  the  best-furnished  homes  in  the 
State  of  Ohio.  Among  the  leading  business  and 
moneyed  men  of  Zanesville,  Mr.  Gant  is  considered 
one  of  them. 

CASPER   TITUS. 

Norfolk,  Va.,  can  boast  of  a  progressive  man  in 
the  person  of  Casper  Titus,  a  thriving  florist,  in 
Huntersville,  Norfolk,  Va.;  carries  about  3,000  feet  of 
glass ;  grows  plants,  flowers,  and  vegetables  ;  has  a 
good  patronage  from  white  as  well  as  colored ;  is  the 
leading  colored  florist  south  of  Baltimore ;  began 
business  with  ten  lilies  and  eight  geraniums,  the  few 
brought  to  him  by  his  wife.  The  total  number  of 
lilies  to-day  is  500,  with  a  spring  sale  of  about  5,OOO 
plants  of  different  varieties. 

MR.   J.    STEPHENSON. 

Mr.  J.  Stephenson,  watchmaker  and  jeweler,  does 


504  Evidences  of  Progress 

a  good  business  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  has  a  splendid 
stock  of  goods.  He  began  first  by  repairing  watches 
and  clocks,  until  he  had  built  up  a  trade,  and  at  the 
same  time  saved  enough  money  to  put  in  a  small 
stock  of  goods.  His  trade  is  by  no  means  confined 
to  colored  people.  His  success  simply  shows  what 
can  be  done  when  the  proper  effort  is  put  forth. 

MR.    W.    J.    OVERTON. 

Mr.  Overton,  of  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  was  for  years 
before  his  death  foreman  and  manager  of  the  Clarks 
ville  ice  factory.  He  began  work  there  as  a  fireman. 
Mr.  Overton  had  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
best  people  in  the  city.  He,  by  hard  work  and  good 
management,  saved  enough  money  to  purchase  splen 
did  property. 

j.  w.  PAGE. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Page  is  also  of  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  and  is 
regarded  by  all  as  a  very  prominent  man.  For  years 
he  was  one  of  the  city  councilmen,  and  much  of  the 
public  improvement  in  his  ward  has  been  done  through 
his  effort.  He  owns  a  great  deal  of  property,  which 
is  rented.  At  his  home  he  operates  a  grocery  busi 
ness  that  is  well  patronized  in  that  portion  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Page  takes  an  active  part  in  church  and  Sunday- 
school  work  ;  in  fact,  in  all  things  that  will  in  any 
way  lift  up  his  people. 

BOTTS   &    HENSLEY. 

Messrs.  Botts  &  Hensley,  at  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky.,  own 


Among  Colored  People.  505 

and  operate  one  of  the  leading  grocery  stores  of  that 
city.  Both  of  these  men  stand  high  and  own  good 
homes.  Their  patrons  are  mostly  white. 

J.    R.    HAWKINS. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Hawkins,  of  Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  has  a 
very  large  and  well-furnished  grocery  store.  His 
trade  is  about  equally  divided  between  the  white  and 
colored  people.  As  for  his  white  patrons,  he  has 
some  of  the  leading  families  in  the  city  who  deal 
there.  He  owns  a  splendid  home,  and  is  very  highly 
respected  by  all. 

A.    C.    BRENT. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Brent,  also  of  Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  is  en 
gaged  in  the  grocery  business.  He  has  a  large 
trade  and  many  white  patrons.  Hopkinsville  has 
many  things  of  interest  among  colored  people.  In 
addition  to  Mr.  Hawkins'  and  Mr.  Brent's  grocery 
business,  Mr.  Peter  Postell  has  a  large  store,  which  is 
mentioned  in  another  part  of  this  publication. 

MR.    E.    W.    GLASS. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Glass,  of  Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  is  a  suc 
cessful  undertaker.  He  is  a  native  of  Hopkinsville. 
and  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  movements 
that  would  advance  his  people.  Mr.  Glass  has  been 
one  of  the  city  teachers,  and  for  some  four  years  was 
engaged  in  the  revenue  service  as  United  States  store 
keeper.  He  was  at  one  time  an  alderman  in  his 
ward.  As  an  undertaker  he  is  a  success,  and  is  re- 


506  Evidences  of  Progress 

garded  as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  that  line  in  the 
State. 


MRS.    C.    HODGES. 


Mrs.  C.  Hodges,  a  colored  woman,  is  holding  the 
position  of  Deputy  Meat  Inspector  in  one  of  Mr. 
Armour's  large  packing  houses  at  Kansas  City,  Kan. 

'f  ''    *         b-'.i       i     '  •;•      •'; 

MRS.    M.    M.    BROWN. 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Brown,  of  Staunton,  Va.,  has  a  good 
dressmaking  business.  She  keeps  on  hand  a  large 
stock  of  ladies'  ready-made  clothing  of  all  kinds.  She 
owns  a  splendid  building  on  Main  Street.  The  most 
of  her  customers  are  white. 

i       V  ,  M:-.          -f\  V,  .    r-.     ;j        .'.}  ,'.'  ,,: 

MISS    ELIZABETH    B.    SLAUGHTER. 

Miss  E.  B.  Slaughter,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  is  a  young 
lady  who  deserves  more  than  passing  mention.  She 
is.engaged  in  the  millinery  business,  and  has  built  up 
a  splendid  trade  among  both  white  and  colored 
patrons.  Miss  Slaughter  learned  her  trade  in  the 
"Armour  Institute  "  at  Chicago,  111.,  where  she,  in 
part,  worked  her  way  through  that  institution.  Her 
store  is  well  and  neatly  furnished,  and  she  keeps  on 
hand  a  line  of  goods  that  will  please  the  best  class 
of  patrons  among  both  races.  I  regard  her  work  of 
great  interest  from  the  fact  that  she  is  one  of  the  first 
among  colored  ladies  who  have  made  an  effort  along 
this  line.  We  publish  a  splendid  picture  of  Miss 
Slaughter  in  this  edition  in  the  hope  that  it,  along 
with  this  short  sketch  of  her  work  and  success,  may 


Among  Colored  People. 


507 


inspire  some  other  young  lady  to  start  in  business  of 
some  sort.  When  colored  people,  and  especially 
ladies,  are  engaged  in  different  business  enterprises, 
such  as  women  take  up  as  a  means  of  support,  white 
people  will  then  be  compelled  to  see  them  not  only  as 


MISS    E.    B.    SLAUGHTER. 

cooks  and  washerwomen,  but  as  business  women  and 
competitors.  Then,  too,  when  colored  ladies  can 
operate  successful  millinery  stores,  that  in  itself  will 
at  least  have  a  tendency  to  make  white  women  en 
gaged  in  such  business  treat  their  colored  customer 


508  Evidences  of  Progress 

with  more  consideration.  Miss  Slaughter  is  a  grad 
uate  from  the  schools  of  this  city.  She  is  very  highly 
respected,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  better  class  of 
colored  ladies  are  proud  of  the  fact  that  Louisville  has 
a  colored  milliner.  At  Lexington,  Ky.,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Jackson  and  Mrs.  Hathaway  have  opened  a  millinery 
and  notion  store,  and  they  are  meeting  with  success. 

MR.    ANDREW    HAYDEN. 

Andrew  Hayden,  of  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  a  blacksmith 
by  trade  and  an  ex-slave,  has,  by  very  hard  work 
and  good  business  judgment,  built  up  quite  a  start  in 
life  in  the  way  of  good  property.  He  owns,  in  addi 
tion  to  his  residence,  which  is  a  beautiful  brick  struc 
ture,  several  houses,  which  are  rented — one  as  a  busi 
ness  house,  and  some  ten  others  as  dwellings.  Mr. 
Hayden  has  his  own  home  in  the  most  aristocratic 
part  of  the  town,  and  his  family  are  the  only  colored 
people  on  that  street.  His  house  is  well  furnished, 
and  his  wife  takes  great  pride  in  her  home.  She  has 
a  very  large  and  fine  collection  of  house  plants,  and 
Mr.  Hayden  built  her  a  very  fine  pit  to  keep  them 
in  during  the  cold  weather.  He  has  but  little  educa 
tion,  but  a  large  stock  of  good  common  sense.  I  re 
gard  him  as  a  credit  to  the  town. 

PEOPLE'S  DRUG  STORE. 

The  People's  Drug  Store,  located  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  is  another  evidence  of  colored  people's  ability  to 
manage  business  enterprises  of  their  own.  The  store 


Among  Colored  People. 


509 


is  well  equipped  with  a  good  stock  of  goods,  and  is 
patronized  by  both  races.  It  is  kept  neat  and  clean. 
Mr.  R.  F.  White,  who  has  charge  of  the  store,  is  a 
graduate  in  pharmacy  from  Howard  University,  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  stands  high  in  his  profession. 


MR.    R.    F.   WHITE. 


In  speaking  of  the  class  of  people  who  give  the  most 
support  to  race  enterprises,  Mr.  White  thinks  "  that 
the  middle-class  seem  to  have  more  interest  and  pride 
in  the  places  of  business  started  by  colored  men  than 
those  who  have  had  better  advantages,  and  ought, 


5 1 6  Evidences  of  Progress 

because  of  their  ability,  feel  a  deeper  interest  in  all 
things  that  would  help  in  any  way  the  business  de 
velopment  of  the  race."  Of  all  stores  that  would  be 
helpful  to  the  colored  people  a  drug  store  would  be 
one  of  them,  from  the  fact  that  the  business  could 
only  be  carried  on  by  educated  people,  and  the  more 
of  that  class  who  can  be  brought  into  prominent 
places  the  better  for  the  entire  race.  Mr.  White  is  a 
native  of  Florida  and  is  much  thought  of  by  his 
people.  He  is  progressive,  and  believes  in  perfect 
system  and  order,  and  conducts  the  drug  store  on 
that  principle. 

GREENE    BROTHERS. 

Greene  Brothers,  of  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  are  mer 
chants  on  a  very  large  scale.  They  handle  a  general 
line  of  all  sorts  of  goods  that  can  be  found  in  what 
is  known  in  the  South  as  a  general  store.  They  fur 
nish  quite  a  number  of  planters  from  year  to  year, 
and  of  course  take  their  chances  on  the  results  of  the 
crops  for  their  pay.  They  are  young  men  and  owe 
their  success  to  the  very  close  attention  they  give  to 
the  business.  Their  store  is  not  only  one  of  the 
leading  places  of  business  in  Holly  Springs,  but  is 
one  of  the  best  in  the  State.  I  live  in  hope  that  the 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  just  such  places  of  busi 
ness  can  be  found  in  every  town  in  the  South  owned 
by  colored  men. 

REV.    I.    H.    ANDERSON. 

Rev.  I.  H.  Anderson,  of  Jackson,  Tenn.,  is  another 
evidence  of  Negro  success.  Mr.  Anderson  has  been 


Among  Colored  People.  $ii 

for  years  a  minister  in  what  is  known  as  the  C.  M. 
E.  Church,  and  for  some  years  managed  the  publish 
ing  house  of  that  connection  at  Jackson,  Tenn.  He 
has  retired  from  active  work  in  the  ministry  and  gone 
into  business.  Mr.  Anderson  has  built  a  very  fine 
brick  block  in  Jackson,  where  he  keeps  a  line  of 
groceries,  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes ;  in  fact,  a  gen 
eral  store.  He  has  a  large  white  trade.  I  am  in 
formed  that  in  addition  to  his  store  he  owns  a  large 
amount  of  property. 

.      '.  '    ••:          .   ':     J  '  .3 

FITE'S  STUDIO. 

Mr.  S.  Fite,  owner  of  Fite's  Studio,  at  Owensboro, 
Ky.,  is  in  a  position  to  render  the  race  a  great  service. 
It  is  acknowledged  that  he  is  by  far  the  best  pho 
tographer  in  that  city,  and  his  patrons  are  not  only 
the  leading  white  people  there,  but  they 'come  from 
other  towns  to  have  work  done.  Mr.  Fite  had  a  hard 
struggle  when  he  first  located  at  Owensboro,  because 
of  the  unfair  means  used  by  the  white  men  engaged 
in  the  same  line  of  work  to  defeat  him.  But  he  has 
more  than  won  the  fight,  and  stands  at  the  head  as 
an  example  of  what  push  and  pluck  will  do. 

J.    G.    HIGGINS. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higgins,  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  are 
engaged  in  business  in  a  way  that  will  be  helpful  to 
the  race.  Mrs.  Higgins  is  a  manufacturer  of  human 
hair  goods,  in  such  things  as  switches,  wigs,  waves, 
bangs,  and  vest-chains.  Her  patrons  are  about  all 
white,  and  their  store  is  in  the  heart  of  the  business 


512  Evidences  of  Progress 

part  of  the  city,  and  is  one  of  the  neatest  stores  in 
that  line  I  ever  saw.  Mr.  Higgins  is  a  practical  watch 
maker,  and  has  a  splendid  trade  repairing  and  clean 
ing  watches. 

J.    W.    MOORE. 

J.  W.  Moore,  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  is  another  successful 
business  man.  Mr.  Moore  is  a  native  of  Louisville, 
Ky.  He  was  at  one  time  a  clerk  in  the  Mileage 
Department  of  the  C.  &  O.  &  S.  W.  R.  R.  office,  and 
was  also  a  letter-carrier  for  three  years  at  Padu 
cah.  He  operates  now  a  very  large  grocery  store ; 
in  fact,  one  of  the  best  in  the  city.  He  has  some 
thing  to  show  for  his  labor,  in  the  way  of  some 
eight  houses,  seven  of  which  are  rented.  I  found 
him  interested  in  all  that  will  help  and  advance  the 


race. 


JORDAN    C.    JACKSON. 

Jordan  C.  Jackson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Fayette  County,  Kentucky,  February  25, 
1848.  He  is  a  remarkable  example  of  what  pluck 
and  energy  can  do  for  a  man  without  scholastic  train 
ing.  Mr.  Jackson  has  been  a  prominent  figure  in  the 
State  for  twenty  years,  and  has  attended  every  Re 
publican  convention  held  in  the  State  within  that 
time. 

He  was  alternate  delegate  to  the  late  Hon.  W.  C. 
Goodloe  to  the  National  Republican  Convention, 
which  met  in  Cincinnati  in  1876,  and  delegate-at-large 
to  the  National  Republican  Convention  which  met  at 
Minneapolis  to  nominate  Benjamin  Harrison  the  sec 
ond  time  as  President  of  the  United  States — an  honor 


Among  Colored  People. 


513 


which  only  one  other  man  of  the  race  has  had  con 
ferred  upon  him  from  Kentucky.  Mr.  Jackson  was 
twice  elected  lay  trustee  of  Wilberforce  University, 
and  is  now,  and  has  been  for  the  past  twelve  years, 


JORDAN    C.    JACKSON. 

trustee  of  Berea  College,  the  most  unique  institution 
on  the  American  continent.  He  stands  ready  with 
might  and  means  to  do  his  part  in  any  and  all  move 
ments  for  the  advancement  of  his  race.  Mr.  Jackson 
has  been  United  States  storekeeper  and  gauger  for  a 
33 


514  Evidences  of  Progress 

number  ot  years,  and  has  always  taken  rank  as  a  first- 
class  officer.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  under 
taking  firm  of  Porter  &  Jackson,  and  has  won  for  the 
firm  and  himself  a  place  in  the  confidence  of  the 
people  that  can  be  had  only  by  fair  business  transac 
tions  and  personal  integrity.  He  was  a  most  valued 
contributor  to  the  Standard  for  a  year,  and  was 
known  to  the  many  readers  as  "  Observer,"  a  title 
that  befits  him  well,  as  all  who  have  read  his  able 
articles  will  readily  attest.  Owing  to  his  many  busi 
ness  cares,  he  has  for  a  time  retired  from  the  literary 
field,  and  in  losing  him  the  Standard  has  lost  one  of 
its  most  highly  prized  writers.  Writing  under  the 
nom  de  plume  of  Uncle  Eph,  he  also  furnished  a 
number  of  most  valuable  articles  for  the  American 
Citizen.  He  combines  qualities  that  every  man  is 
not  possessed  of — literary  talent  and  business  quali 
fication.  Mr.  Jackson  is  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic 
workers  against  the  enactment  of  the  separate-coach 
law  of  Kentucky,  and  was  one  of  the  first  men  ap 
pointed  to  wait  on  Governor  Brown  for  the  purpose 
of  preventing  the  passage  of  the  now  obnoxious  law. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Central  Committee,  and 
there  is  no  man  on  the  entire  committee  who  is  more 
in  the  struggle  that  we  are  now  undergoing.  He 
believes  that  if  sufficient  money  is  collected  to  test 
the  constitutionality  of  the  law,  that  it  will  be  wiped 
from  the  statute-book  of  the  Commonwealth.  Mr. 
Jackson  was  elected  temporary  chairman  of  the  sepa 
rate-coach  convention  held  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  June 
22,  1892. 


Among  Colored  People. 


515 


REV.  A.  H.  MILLER. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Miller,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch, 
was  born  a  slave  in  St.  Francis  county,  Arkansas, 
March  12,  1849.  He  has  lived  in  Arkansas  all  his 
life,  with  the  exception  of  a  brief  period  just  after 


REV.    A.   H.    MILLER. 

the  war,  which  was  spent  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  After 
remaining  in  St.  Louis  about  one  year  he  returned  to 
Arkansas,  worked  by  the  day,  and  saved  enough 
money  to  give  himself  one  session  in  Southland  Col 
lege,  near  Helena,  which  constitutes  the  major  por- 


516  Evidences  of  Progress 

tion  of  his  school  advantage.  He  was  chosen  by 
the  people  of  his  county  to  represent  them  in  the 
Arkansas  General  Assembly,  in  1874,  and  served  his 
whole  term  honorably.  It  was  witli  the  small  amount 
of  money  he  saved  while  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  that  he  began  his  remarkable  career  as  a 
financier.  He  is  a  man  of  economical  habits,  and 
gives  close  attention  to  his  personal  business.  He 
has  amassed  a  handsome  little  fortune,  being  re 
garded  as  one  of  the  wealthiest  negroes  in  East  Ar 
kansas.  Rev.  Miller  has  travelled  extensively,  and 
is  well  known  in  the  Baptist  denomination.  He  is 
somewhat  a  philanthropist,  and  has  the  credit  of 
being  one  of  the  first  to  make  a  personal  gift  to  the 
National  Baptist  Publishing  House.  He  has  filled 
many  important  places  in  the  work  of  his  denomina 
tion.  He  is  prominent  as  a  local  leader,  and  is  at 
present  a  member  of  the  Helena  School  Board. 
Mr.  Miller  owns  and  rents  some  fifty  houses  in 
Helena,  and  is  building  more  for  that  purpose. 

MR.    S.    BOYCE. 

Mr.  Stansbury  Boyce,  of  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
has  made  a  start  in  the  right  direction,  and  I  hope 
that  many  colored  men  will  follow  in  the  lead  he  has 
taken.  I  have  mentioned  many  men  who  have  stores 
and  are  doing  a  successful  business,  but  Mr.  Boyce  is 
the  first  one  I  have  found  who  operates  a  regular 
department  store  on  the  plan  of  a  city  store  of  the 
same  kind.  Each  department  is  in  the  hands  of  a 
colored  girl,  who  has  been  trained  by  Mr.  Boyce  as 


Among-  Colored  People.  517 

a  saleslady,  and  I  am  very  confident  that  the  girls  in 
his  store  understand  their  work  and  know  the  quality 
of  goods  quite  as  well  as  white  girls  doing  the  same 
work.  The  store  is  patronized  as  much  by  white 
people  as  it  is  by  colored,  and  Mr.  Boyce  said  that 


MR.    S.    BOYCE. 


in  the  "  millinery  department  most  of  his  trade  came 
from  the  best  class  of  white  ladies."  I  hope  those 
who  read  this  short  sketch  will  see  what  a  great 
blessing  stores  like  this  would  prove  to  the  colored 
people  if  we  had  them  all  over  the  country,  not  only 


5  1 8  Evidences  of  Progress 

to  make  money  for  the  owner,  but  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  employment  to  a  large  number  of  well- 
educated  girls  who  can't  find  anything  to  do  outside 
of  teaching  and  domestic  work.  I  found  Mr.  Boyce 
not  only  a  successful  merchant,  but  a  very  intelligent 
and  polished  gentleman.  His  wife  has  charge  of  the 
millinery  department,  and  she  thoroughly  under 
stands  her  work. 

ISAAC    JOHNSON. 

Isaac  Johnson,  Manufacturer  and  Dealer  in  Florida 
Curiosities,  Jewelry,  Novelties,  Live  and  Stuffed  Alli 
gators,  Chameleons,  Shells,  Palmetto  Fans,  Fly 
Brushes  and  all  kinds  of  Alligator  Tooth  Jewelry — 
such  is  the  wording  of  the  billhead  handed  me  by  Mr. 
Johnson,  the  only  colored  man  in  the  country  who 
owns  a  store  where  all  kinds  of  curiosities  are  made 
and  sold.  His  store  is  in  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and 
when  walking  down  Hogan  street  your  attention  is 
frequently  attracted  to  large  crowds  gathered  on  the 
left-hand  side  of  the  street.  This  is  the  great  curio 
establishment  sometimes  known  as  the  "  Alligator 
Store,"  and  is  owned  and  operated  by  Mr.  Isaac 
Johnson. 

Mr.  Johnson,  when  a  boy,  was  employed  on  the 
very  spot  where  he  is  now  proprietor  to  assist  around 
the  store.  He  showed  great  ability,  and  as  time 
went  on  this  boy  began  to  take  hold  of  the  work 
and  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  all  curiosities.  And 
from  stuffing  alligators  he  began  to  make  very  many 
pretty  designs  from  different  parts  of  this  animal, 


Among  Colored  People.  519 

thus  showing  his  ability  in  various  directions,  which 
was  soon  recognized  by  those  who  employed  him. 

He  not  only  displayed  his  ability,  but  he  took 
special  training,  thus  fitting  himself  for  the  work, 
which  is  one  of  an  expert  nature.  Before  very  many 


ISAAC  JOHNSON. 

years  went  by  Mr.  Johnson,  by  his  honesty,  thrift  and 
diligence,  not  only  acquired  and  mastered  the  trade, 
but  was  able  when  the  opportunity  presented  itself 
to  buy  out  the  business,  and  to-day  he  is  doing  a 
large  trade  and  is  able  to  help  others  of  his  race. 


520  Evidences  of  Progress 

HOWARD    BROTHERS. 

P.  W.  &  E.  E.  Howard,  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  are  en 
gaged  in  the  mercantile  business  on  quite  a  large 
scale.  They  handle  a  general  line  of  dry  goods  and 
groceries.  I  have  mentioned  several  men  who  are 


E.    E.    HOWARD. 


engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business,  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  and  some  who  own  larger 
stores,  but  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  age 
of  these  young  men  their  effort  becomes  a  thing  of 
great  interest  to  the  public  at  large.  Mr.  E.  E. 


Among  Colored  People.  521 

Howard,  whose  cut  appears  in  connection  with  this 
sketch,  is  only  about  21  years  of  age,  while  his 
brother,  P.  W.  Howard,  is  only  24.  These  young 
men  both  attended  Rust  University,  at  Holly  Springs, 
Miss.,  and  there  and  at  the  public  schools  prepared 
themselves  for  their  life's  work.  The  money  they 
have  invested  in  their  business  is  entirely  their  own 
earnings — from  boyhood  they  have  been  saving  what 
they  could  earn  with  a  view  of  some  time  going  into 
some  line  of  business.  I  have  no  doubt  but  what  a 
large  number  of  young  men  who  have  lived  only  to 
enjoy  life  will  read  this  sketch  with  a  degree  of  sad 
ness  when  they  look  over  their  past  life  and  think 
how  different  things  might  have  gone  for  them  had 
they  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  such  energetic  and 
progressive  young  men  as  the  Howard  Brothers. 

MR.    E.    E.    FLUKER. 

E.  E.  Fluker,  of  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,  is  another  of  the 
successful  merchants  of  the  South.  Mr.  Fluker, 
like  most  men,  began  business  on  a  small  amount  of 
money,  and  has  had  some  heavy  losses  that  were 
hard  to  stand  and  remain  in  business.  He  has  a 
large  store,  and  does  both  a  wholesale  and  retail 
trade  in  dry  goods,  hats,  caps,  boots  and  shoes  and 
groceries.  Mr.  Fluker  handles  cotton  on  a  large 
scale,  and  thinks  nothing  of  buying  and  selling 
twelve  thousand  bales  per  year.  He  furnishes  dry 
goods  and  provisions  to  a  large  number  of  poor 
planters  who  can  only  pay  their  bills  once  a  year, 
and  that  is  when  they  sell  their  cotton.  Mr.  Fluker 


522  Evidences  of  Progress 

has  also  been  active  in  society  work  and  has  been 
instrumental  in  getting  large  numbers  of  colored 
people  into  benevolent  societies,  where  they  could 
get  help  when  sick  and  in  need.  He  owns  a  fine 


MR.    E.    E.    FLUKER. 

brick  block  in  Pine  BlufT,  where  his  business  is  con 
ducted,  and  in  part  of  his  building  one  of  the  city 
banks  is  operated.  The  room  where  the  bank  is  is 
rented  to  white  people,  who  carry  on  that  business. 

MR.    R.    J.    PALMER. 

R.  J.  Palmer,  of  Columbia,  S.  C,  the  subject  of 
this  short  sketch,  is  one  of  the  successful  and  leading 
business  men  of  that  city.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  merchant 
tailor  by  occupation.  His  patrons  are  numbered 
among  the  leading  white  citizens  of  Columbia,  who 
give  him  their  work  because  of  the  confidence  they 


Among  Colored  People. 


523 


have  in  him  as  an  honest  business  man  and  an  excel 
lent  workman  in  his  line.  Mr.  Palmer  keeps  on 
hand  a  full  and  complete  stock  of  foreign  and  do 
mestic  woolens  and  a  good  line  of  gents'  furnishing 
goods.  He  employs  only  the  best  of  workmen,  and 
he  does  all  the  cutting  and  fitting,  and  his  business  is 


MR.    R.    J.    PALMER. 

carried  on  in  a  good  brick  building,  which  is  owned 
by  himself.  He  also  owns  a  good  home.  He  is  an 
active  and  prominent  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Mr.  Palmer  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  has  all 
his  life  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  best 
peopl*  of  both  races. 


524 


Evidences  of  Progress 


MR.    LOUIS    KASTOR. 

Louis  Kastor,  of  Natchez,  Miss.,  is  the  only  col 
ored  man  I  have  found  in  my  travels  engaged  in  the 
line  of  work  he  represents,  at  least  on  so  large  a  scale 
as  he  carries  on  his  business.  He  is  a  first-class 


MR.    LOUIS    KASTOR. 


harness-maker  by  trade  and  owns  one  of  the  largest 
and  best-equipped  stores  in  his  line  in  the  country. 
In  addition  to  the  harness  he  makes  he  keeps  on 
hand  a  large  stock  of  ready-made  harness,  bridles, 


Among  Colored  People.  525 

saddles,  whips,  rugs,  in  fact,  a  large  and  complete 
stock  of  all  goods  sold  by  men  in  his  business.  Mr. 
Kastor  began  first  with  $65.00,  and  is  now  doing  a 
business  of  some  $22,000  a  year.  He  owns  a  fine 
property  for  a  residence,  and  has  the  respect  and  con 
fidence  of  the  best  people  in  Natchez.  In  addition 
to  his  own  residence  Mr.  Kastor  owns  three  other 
houses,  which  he  has  rented.  I  found  him  a  very 
intelligent  man,  and  one  who  is  very  anxious  to  see 
the  colored  people  advance  in  every  department  of 
life.  He  feels  that  they  must  be  engaged  in  all  lines 
of  work  and  business  in  order  that  they  may  suc 
ceed. 

SANDY   W.  TRICE. 

Mr.  Sandy  W.  Trice  was  born  in  New  Providence, 
Tenn.,  in  1866,  He  spent  some  years  of  his  life  in 
the  employ  of  railroad  companies,  as  porter  on 
sleeping  car.  He  finally  decided  to  make  an  effort 
to  get  into  business  for  himself,  and  in  1900,  with  a 
partner  opened  a  small  place,  but  at  the  end  of  one 
year  he  bought  out  the  partner's  interest.  The  busi 
ness  was  first  started  with  a  capital  of  about  six 
hundred  dollars ;  he  has  on  hand  at  this  time  a  stock 
of  goods  worth  over  two  thousand  dollars,  and  doing 
a  business  of  several  thousand  dollars  per  year.  \  His 
patrons  are  among  all  classes  of  people,  and  much  of 
his  trade  comes  from  white  people.  Mr.  Trice  keeps 
on  hand  a  full  line  of  men's  furnishing  goods  ;  also 
ladies'  goods.  When  he  first  started  he  thought  he 
could  let  Mrs.  Trice  manage  the  store,  and  he  would 


526  Evidences  of  Progress 

remain  on  the  road  in  order  that  he  might  make  more, 
but  the  business  increased  so  rapidly  that  after  one 
year  he  had  to  give  up  his  work  and  take  charge  of 
the  store,  but  his  wife  still  helps  in  the  business  and 


SANDY  W.    TRICE. 


Mr.  Trice  feels  that  he  could  not  get  along  without 
her,  and  he  gives  her  much  credit  for  the  great  suc 
cess  they  have  had.  He  has  the  only  store  of  its 
kind  in  Chicago  owned  by  a  colored  man. 


Among  Colored  People.  527 

E.  H.  FAULKNER. 

Mr.  E.  H.  Faulkner  is  in  my  mind  a  very  interest 
ing  character  in  race  history.  This  short  mention  of 
him,  accompanied  with  his  cut,  is  another  evidence 
that  colored  men  are  going  into  all  lines  of  business. 
Mr.  Faulkner  has  what  is  known  as  Tlie  Afro- 
American  news  office,  located  at  3104  State  street, 
Chicago,  111.,  where  he  keeps  on  hand  each  week 


E.    H.    FAULKNER. 

the  leading  newpapers  and  magazines  published  by 
members  of  the  race.  He  first  started  with  two  or 
three  different  papers  each  week,  and  of  them  he 
could  only  sell  a  few;  but  now  his  sales  of  papers  and 
magazines  run  up  into  the  thousands  each  year. 
Among  the  many  papers  and  magazines  sold  by  Mr. 
Faulkner  we  give  a  list  of  a  few  of  them  : 

Reformer,  Richmond,  Va. ;  Planet,  Richmond,  Va.; 


528 


Evidences  of  Progress 


Odd  Felloivs  Journal,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Guardian^ 
Boston,  Mass.;  Atlanta  Age,  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  State 
Capital,  Springfield,  111.;  Colored  American,  Wash 
ington,  D.  C. ;  New  York  Age,  N.  Y.;  Gazette, 
Cleveland,  Ohio ;  Detroit  Informer,  Detroit,  Mich* 

MR.    EUGENE    BURKINS. 

Eugene  Burkins,  inventor  of  the  "  Burkins  Auto- 


EUGENE    BURKINS, 
Inventor  of  the  Burkins  Automatic  Machine-Gun. 

matic  Machine-Gun,"  was  at  one  time  a  bootblack  in 
the  city  of  Chicago.     He  never  had  any  education 


Among  Colored  People.  529 

outside  of  learning  how  to  read  and  write.  Nor  had 
he  ever  been  a  soldier,  or  had  any  experience  with 
guns  of  any  description ;  and  for  that  reason  his 
invention  is  all  the  more  wonderful.  He  began  first 
to  make  a  careful  study  of  the  picture  that  appeared 
in  the  papers,  showing  the  guns  on  the  "  Battleship 
Maine."  Mr.  Burkins  saw  in  what  way  he  could 
improve  the  machine-gun  by  increasing  its  rapid- 
firing  capacity,  and  along  that  line  he  began  to  work 
His  first  model  was  mostly  made  with  a  pocket- 
knife.  Some  of  the  leading  colored  people  helped 
him  secure  his  patent.  Mr.  Madden,  a  wealthy 
man  in  Chicago,  furnished  over  $3,000  to  make  a 
perfect  model.  Admiral  Dewey  said  it  was  "by 
far  the  best  machine-gun  ever  made."  It  shoots  seven 
times  more  a  minute  than  the  Catling  gun,  and  will 
doubtless  take  the  place  of  other  machine-guns. 
Several  foreign  countries  have  offered  large  sums  for 
the  right  to  manufacture  it  for  their  navies ;  but  Mr. 
Burkins  and  Mr.  Madden,  his  partner,  proposed  to 
control  the  manufacturing  interest  in  this  country. 

MR.  GEO.  E.  JONES. 

Mr.  Ceo.  E.  Jones,  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  is  beyond 
doubt  one  of  the  most  successful  business  men 
among  the  colored  people.  He  began  life  a  very 
poor  boy,  without  friends  or  capital,  and  has  by  hard 
work  and  close  economy  placed  himself  among  the 
most  prominent  business  men  of  his  city.  Mr.  Jones 
is  engaged  in  the  undertaking  business,  and  can  say 
what  no  other  colored  man  engaged  in  that  line  of 

o      o 

work  in  the  South  can  say,  and  that  is — he  has  about 
34 


530  Evidences  @f  Progress 

as  much  patronage  among  the  white  people  as  he  has 
with  his  own  race.  Mr.  Jones  first  started  in  busi 
ness  as  a  merchant  on  a  small  amount  of  money,  and 
finally  worked  into  the  undertaking  business.  He 
owns  now  in  Little  Rock  quite  a  large  amount  of 


MR.    GEO.    E.    JONES. 

property,  and  among  the  different  buildings  there  he 
has  two  large  brick  blocks,  one  on  Main  street,  where 
he  has  his  undertaking  establishment,  and  one  on 
West  Ninth  street,  which  is  rented.  In  the  Ninth 
street  block  Mr.  Jones  has  in  one  room  a  fine  drug 


Among  Colored  People. 


531 


store,  which  he  employs  a  young  druggist  to  attend 
to.  He  owns  a  fine  lot  of  horses  and  carnages  used 
in  his  business  as  an  undertaker.  His  residence  is 
by  far  the  best  furnished  home  I  ever  saw  owned  by 
a  colored  man.  Mrs.  Jones,  his  wife,  is  a  very  re 
fined  and  cultured  lady. 

MR.  G.  W.  HIGGINS. 

G.  W.  Higgins  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and 


MR.  G.  W.  HIGGINS. 

lived  for  some  time  at  Newberry,  S.  C.     He  began  at 


532  Evidences  of  Progress 

an  early  age  to  acquire  an  education  in  order  that  he 
might  be  of  some  help  to  himself  and  race.  Mr. 
Higgins  attended  Biddle  University  at  Charlotte,  N. 
C.,  where  he  took  a  course  in  theology.  He  was  at 
one  time  principal  of  the  public  school  at  Old  Fort, 
N.  C.,  and  while  teaching  there  he  established  a 
Presbyterian  Church,  which  is  still  in  existence. 
After  leaving  the  Presbyterian  work  he  joined  the 
A.  M.  E.  Zion  Connection,  and  was  appointed  pastor 
at  Abington,  Va.,  and  afterwards  at  Johnson  City, 
Tenn.  There  he  became  interested  in  the  industrial 
advancement  of  the  colored  people,  and  set  about  to 
learn  some  trade,  and  secured  work  in  a  first-class 
steam  laundry,  and  learned  the  business  thoroughly, 
and  afterwards  operated  a  laundry  of  his  own.  Mr. 
Higgins  came  to  Cincinnati,  O.,  in  1893  and  secured 
employment  with  the  Oil  and  Grease  Company  of 
Chas.  H.  Moore  &  Co.  After  five  years  of  faithful 
work  for  that  firm  he  became  an  expert  in  the  com 
pounding  of  the  oils  and  greases  made  by  the  firm, 
and  was  offered  a  larger  salary  by  Burchard  &  Co., 
of  Cincinnati,  who  are  refiners  of  lard  oil.  For  this 
firm,  Mr.  Higgins  has  charge  as  foreman  of  the  oil 
and  grease  department.  He  is  much  thought  of  by 
his  employers. 

MR.  A.  MEANS. 

A.  Means,  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  is  a  practical  hatter, 
and  is  the  only  colored  man  I  know  of  engaged  in 
that  line  of  work.  He  has  a  large  trade  and  keeps 
on  hand  a  select  assortment  of  the  latest  styles  in 


Among  Colored  People.  533 

hats  and  caps.     Mr.  Means  does  a  large  business  in 
cleaning  and  repairing  hats. 

MR.  J.  E.  HENDERSON. 

J.  E.  Henderson,  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  is  engaged 
in  the  jewelry  business.  Mr.  Henderson  is  regarded 
as  a  good  workman  in  his  line,  and  for  some  years 
before  he  began  business  for  himself  he  did  the  re 
pair  work  for  one  of  the  leading  jewelry  houses  of 
Little  Rock.  He  gets  a  great  deal  of  his  work  now 
from  the  white  people.  I  hope  before  many  years  to 
see  a  larger  number  of  colored  men  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  trade. 

SOUTHERN    MERCANTILE    COMPANY. 

The  Southern  Mercantile  Company,  Pine  Bluff, 
Ark.,  is  a  company  of  excellent  business  men,  who 
are  demonstrating  that  colored  men  can  manage  a 
successful  business  enterprise.  They  handle  a  large 
stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes  and 
plantation  supplies.  They  do  both  a  wholesale  and 
retail  business.  The  firm  has  in  it  such  men  as 
Wiley  Jones,  Fred.  Havis,  who  is  president  of  the 
company,  and  Mr.  M.  R.  Perry,  as  secretary  and 
treasurer.  Mr.  Perry  is  a  graduate  from  one  of  the 
best  schools  in  the  country  and  regarded  as  a  splen 
did  business  man. 

MR.  L.  CARTER. 

L.  Carter,  of  Greenville,  Miss.,  was  born  of  slave 
parents  at  Carthage,  Tenn.  He  has  been  in  Mis 
sissippi  since  1866.  Mr.  Carter  owns  and  operates 


534  Evidences  of  Progress 

the  only  large  book  store  in  the  country  owned  by  a 
colored  man.  He  keeps  a  splendid  stock  of  school 
books,  blank  books,  stationery,  periodicals  and  a 
good  assortment  of  story  books  and  toys.  In  speak 
ing  of  where  he  got  the  greater  part  of  his  support, 
he  said  that  at  least  two-thirds  of  his  patronage  came 
from  the  white  people,  and  among  the  best  class  of 
them.  Mr.  Carter  owns  good  property  in  Greenville 
as  a  residence,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  promi 
nent  citizens. 

DAVIS    &    ROBINSON. 

Davis  &  Robinson,  of  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  are  the 
leading  commission  merchants  of  that  city.  They  do 
both  a  wholesale  and  retail  business  in  oranges, 
fruits,  strawberries,  northern  produce,  turkeys, 
chickens,  eggs,  early  vegetables.  They  handle 
melons  in  car-load  lots  and  keep  all  kinds  of  game 
in  season.  They  also  supply  the  large  hotels  there 
with  all  they  need  in  their  line.  Both  of  these  men 
are  respected  and  regarded  as  excellent  business 
men  by  the  leading  people. 

MRS.  ELLA    HENDERSON. 

Mrs.  Ella  Henderson,  who  is  located  at  Natchez, 
Miss.,  has  opened  a  very  excellent  millinery  store, 
where  she  keeps  a  splendid  stock  of  goods  in  that 
line  of  trade.  As  I  have  stated  in  other  parts  of 
this  book,  there  are  very  few  colored  ladies  engaged 
in  the  millinery  business.  This  is  to  be  regretted, 
for  there  is  an  opening  for  some  one  to  do  well  in  all 
towns  where  the  colored  population  is  large.  Mrs. 


Among  Colored  People.  535 

Henderson  has  taken  special  training  to  thoroughly 
prepare  herself  for  the  successful  management  of  her 
business.  She  started  in  a  small  way,  and  has  twice 
since  she  opened  her  store  had  to  enlarge  the  room 
in  order  to  meet  the  demands  of  her  trade.  She 
buys  her  stock  from  the  best  houses  in  the  country. 
The  travelling  salesmen  who  visit  the  town  with 
millinery  goods  call  on  her  and  give  her  the  same 
attention  to  secure  her  patronage  as  they  do  the 
white  ladies  in  the  same  business.  I  hope  that  many 
colored  ladies  who  may  read  this  short  sketch  will 
be  inspired  to  at  least  try  and  start  some  kind  of 
business. 

RISHER    BAKERY   COMPANY. 

Mr.  H.  T.  Risher,  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  who  owns 
and  operates  a  very  large  and  successful  bakery 
business,  has  taken  a  new  departure  in  the  line  of 
business  for  colored  people.  I  have  only  found  two 
men  engaged  in  that  line  of  work.  One  was  Mr. 
Jones,  at  Danville,  Va.,  and  Mr.  Risher,  of  Jackson. 
His  place  of  business  is  equipped  with  all  the  modern 
appliances  for  a  first-class  bake  shop.  Mr.  Risher's 
trade  extends  to  many  of  the  towns  in  the  State, 
where  he  supplies  merchants  who  sell  his  bread.  He 
has  several  delivery  wagons  that  are  used  to  supply 
his  city  patrons.  Mr.  Risher  is  regarded  as  a  very 
excellent  man,  who  is  much  interested  in  all  that  will 
advance  the  cause  of  his  race  in  a  business  and  edu 
cational  way.  He  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
spirits  in  building  up  Campbell  College  at  Jackson, 


536  Evidences  of  Progress 

one  of  the  A.  M.  E.  schools.  Mr.  Risher  owns 
splendid  property  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  both 
white  and  colored  people. 

MR.  F.  B.  COFFIN. 

F.  B.  Coffin,  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  is  a  druggist  by 
profession.  He  operates  a  very  fine  drug  store  at 
Little  Rock  for  Mr.  Geo.  E.  Jones.  Mr.  Coffin  is  a 
graduate  from  Meharry  Medical  College,  at  Nash 
ville,  Tenn.  In  addition  to  his  work  as  a  druggist 
he  has  written  a  book  of  poems,  entitled  "  Coffin's 
Poems."  The  book  has  248  pages,  and  contains 
some  very  interesting  matter,  which  shows  his  ability 
as  a  writer.  Part  of  his  book  is  devoted  to  the  ques 
tion  of  Lynch  law,  and  he  speaks  out  like  a  true  and 
brave  man  against  that  awful  curse  to  this  country. 

MR.  j.  E.  BUSH. 

J.  E.  Bush  was  born  in  Moscow,  Tenn.,  in  1856. 
His  parents  moved  to  Arkansas  during  the  rebellious 
unpleasantness  of  1862.  At  an  early  age  he  mani 
fested  the  energy  and  self-reliance  that  has  developed 
him  into  the  useful  prominence  of  a  worthy  and 
highly  respected  citizen.  He  earned  his  tuition  at 
school  by  moulding  brick.  He  may  have  made 
"  bricks  without  straw,"  but  his  manliness  has  never 
allowed  him  to  complain  of  the  many  hardships  he 
has  endured  to  overcome  the  difficulties  in  his  ex 
perience  or  surmount  the  obstacles  with  which  he 
has  so  often  been  brought  into  contact.  Mr.  Bush 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Little  Rock,  Ark 


Among  Colored  People.  537 

He  has  been  successful  in  life  and  owns  valuable 
property  there.  He  has  also  held  some  important 
political  positions,  and  was  appointed  in  1898  by 
President  McKinley  as  Receiver  of  the  United  States 
Land  Office  at  Little  Rock. 

DR.  G.  W.  BELL. 

Dr.  G.  W.  Bell,  of  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,  is  a  graduate 
of  Lincoln  University,  and  he  took  his  medical  train 
ing  at  "  The  University  of  Michigan."  He  has  a 
very  large  practice.  Dr.  Bell  has  established,  in  con 
nection  with  his  profession,  a  private  sanitarium  for 
the  benefit  of  those  who  come  to  him  from  a  dis 
tance  for  treatment.  He  has  built  a  comfortable 
building  for  that  purpose,  and  I  think  it  is  the  only 
institution  of  the  kind  carried  on  by  a  colored  doctor 
in  the  State. 

B.  F.  JACKSON. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Jackson,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  is  an  inventor 
of  quite  a  number  of  very  useful  things  ;  among  them 
is  a  matrix  dryer  used  in  all  of  the  large  newspaper 
offices,  and  a  gas  burner  used  with  great  success  by 
candymakers.  Mr.  Jackson  has  in  use  now  a  trolley 
rope  catcher,  that  is  considered  the  best  thing  of  its 
kind  in  use.  He  also  invented  a  gasoline  engine  for 
automobiles  that  is  in  general  use;  in  fact,  he  has  an 
automobile  that  he  made  himself.  Mr.  Jackson 
hopes  to  organize  a  company  of  colored  men  who 
can  invest  money,  and  start  a  factory,  where  patents 
taken  out  by  colored  inventors  can  have  their  inven 
tions  manufactured  and  put  011  the  market. 


538  Evidences  of  Progress 

DR.    T.    M.    DORAM,    M.  D.  V. 

Dr.  Dorain  will  doubtless  be  quite  a  bit  of  interest 
to  the  readers  of  this  book,  from  the  fact  that  he  is 
the  first  and  only  negro  graduate  to  receive  a  diploma 
from  a  veterinary  college  in  the  United  States.  He 


DR.  T.  M.  DORAM,  M.  D.  V. 

was  born  in  Danville,  Ky.,  where  his  parents  own 
valuable  farm  land.  His  father  was  a  carpenter, 
and  when  Dr.  Doram  was  young  he  worked  with 
him  at  the  trade.  After  he  had  finished  at  the  public 
school,  in  1892,  he  entered  Eckstein  Norton  Uni- 


Among  Colored  People.  539 

versity  at  Cane  Spring,  Ky.  While  there  the  build 
ing  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Dr.  Doram  then  found 
his  knowledge  of  the  carpenter's  trade  of  great  value 
to  him  and  the  school,  in  helping  to  rebuild  the  col 
lege  building.  In  1896  he  entered  the  McKillip 
Veterinary  College  at  Chicago,  111.  At  the  close  of 
the  first  year  he  was  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  ma- 
teria  medica,  and  the  second  year  he  led  his  class 
in  pharmacy,  and  during  his  last  year  he  was  made 
senior  instructor  of  his  class,  an  honor  of  which  he 
may  be  justly  proud.  In  1 899,  when  he  graduated,  he 
came  to  Evanston,  111.,  where  he  enjoys  a  good 
practice,  and  he  is  called  in  his  profession  by  the 
best  people  in  that  very  wealthy  and  aristocratic 
community.  I  very  much  hope  that  a  few  at  least 
of  the  young  colored  men  who  may  read  this  sketch 
may  be  inspired  to  take  up  the  profession  of  veter 
inary  medicine  and  surgery,  for  I  am  confident  that 
many  could  succeed  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

MR.    J.    W.    ADAMS. 

In  presenting  a  few  words  about  Mr.  J.  W.  Adams 
and  his  business  I  feel  that  I  am  doing  the  people 
at  large  a  great  favor  to  give  them  an  opportunity 
to  know  something  about  this  eminently  successful 
colored  business  man.  My  attention  was  first  called 
to  Mr.  Adams  by  Prof.  Booker  T.  Washington  while 
I  was  lecturing  at  Tuskegee.  I  changed  my  plans 
somewhat  in  order  that  I  might  visit  Montgomery, 
Ala,,  and  see  both  the  man  and  his  place  of  busi 
ness.  Mr.  Adams  was  born  in  1867.  He  began 


540 


Evidences  of  Progress 


business  for  himself  about  1899.  But  before  that 
he  picked  up  some  knowledge  of  business  by  work 
ing  for  a  large  clothing  house  in  Montgomery.  He 
first  went  there  as  a  porter,  but  in  time  they  allowed 
him  to  sell  goods.  Mr.  Adams  always  saved  his 


MR.  J.  W.  ADAMS. 

money,  and  when  he  had  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  he  decided  to  make  an  effort  for  himself. 
He  now  operates  a  large  store,  where  he  sells  dry 
goods,  clothing,  millinery,  boots  and  shoes,  hats, 
caps,  trunks,  notions,  etc.  Mr.  Adams  carries  a  stock 
of  over  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  his  store  covers 


A)  no  Jig  Colored  People.  $41 

over  four  thousand  square  feet ;  but  he  first  started 
in  a  room  only  18  by  19  feet.  His  patrons  are  about 
evenly  divided  between  white  and  colored  people. 
He  gives  employment  to  a  large  number  of  clerks, 
all  colored.  In  the  millinery  department  I  found  two 
young  ladies  who  had  learned  their  trade  at  Tus- 
kegee.  Many  of  the  white  ladies  in  Montgomery 
buy  their  hats  at  Mr.  Adams'  store.  I  need  not  tell 
you  that  he  is  of  great  importance  and  help  to  the 
race,  for  we  all  know  what  a  great  inspiration  such  a 
man  must  be  in  stimulating  a  feeling  among  young 
men  to  at  least  try  to  build  up  some  business  in 
terest. 

MR.    H.    A.    LOVELESS. 

Mr.  H.  A.  Loveless  is  also  a  resident  of  Mont 
gomery,  Ala.,  and  must  be  classed  among  the  suc 
cessful  business  men  of  the  race.  He,  like  Mr. 
Adams,  began  business  on  a  small  scale,  and  by  hard 
work  and  an  untiring  effort  he  has  made  a  showing 
no  man  need  to  be  ashamed  of.  Mr.  Loveless 
operates  a  coal  and  wood  yard,  where  he  gives 
employment  to  a  large  force  of  men.  He  also  owns 
teams  and  does  general  hauling,  and  has  nine  fine 
carriages  that  are  kept  on  the  street  for  the  benefit 
of  the  general  public.  Then,  in  addition  to  what  I 
have  referred,  Mr.  Loveless  has  a  very  large  un 
dertaker's  establishment,  which  also  gives  quite  a 
number  of  people  employment.  He  owns  fine 
town  property,  and  is  regarded  by  both  white  and 
colored  people  as  a  very  excellent  man.  He  takes 
an  active  part  in  church  work,  and  is  especially  in- 


542  Evidences  of  Progress 

terested  in  every  movement  that  will  advance  the 
colored  people  in  the  development  of  business  in 
terest  He  along  with  other  leading  men  of  the  race 
feel  that  industrial  education,  and  a  cfood  business 

o 


MR.   H.   A.   LOVELESS. 

training    for   the   young,  will  prove  a  great  factor  in 
the  solution  of  what  we  call  a  "  race  problem." 

PROF.    R.    B.    HUDSON. 

Proi.  R.  B.  Hudson   is  a  resident  of  Selma,  Ala., 
where  he  is  principal  of  the   city  school  for  colored 


Among  Colored  People.  543 

youths.  The  school  is  a  very  large  one,  and  is  re 
garded  by  such  men  as  B.  T.  Washington,  W.  H. 
Councill  and  others  as  the  best  public  school  in  the 
State.  Mr.  Hudson  has  been  very  active  in  educa- 


PKOF.  R.  B.  HUDSON. 


tional  and  religious  work,  and  for  Over  fifteen  years 
has  been  superintendent  of  a  large  Sunday-school, 
and  president  of  the  largest  District  Sunday-school 
Convention  in  the  State.  He  is  also  secretary  for 
the  Baptist  State  Convention,  and  statistician  for  the 
Baptist  denomination  in  the  State.  Prof.  Hudson 


544  Evidences  of  Progress 

was  for  six  years  secretary  of  the  State  Teachers' 
Association,  and  was  then  elevated  to  the  presidency. 
So  one  can  see  that  in  a  religious  and  educational 
work  Mr.  Hudson  has  been  a  very  useful  man,  and 
I  am  glad  to  inform  my  readers  that  he  has  also 
done  something  in  a  business  way,  that  is  of  great 
value  to  the  race  in  starting  a  large  coal  and  wood 
yard  in  Selma,  where  he  gives  employment  to  quite 
a  force  of  men.  There  are  six  coal  and  wood 
yards  in  the  city,  and  Prof.  Hudson  has  the  second 
in  size.  His  business  in  that  line  brings  him  an  in 
come  of  over  ten  thousand  dollars  per  year,  and  his 
customers  are  made  up  of  all  classes,  among  them 
bankers,  lawyers  and  leading  merchants  among  the 
white  people.  Prof.  Hudson  is  still  young,  and  I  am 
sure  has  a  great  future  ahead  of  him. 

DR.    L.    L.    BURWELL. 

Dr.  Burwell  is  also  a  resident  of  Selma,  Ala.,  and 
a  young  man  the  people  seem  very  fond  of.  He 
worked  his  way  through  school  and  graduated  with 
high  honors  at  Selma  University,  after  which  he  en 
tered  Leonard  Medical  College,  at  Raleigh,  N.  C, 
and  by  hard  work  finished  the  four-year  course  in 
three.  Dr.  Burwell  located  at  Selma,  and  has  built 
up  a  very  extensive  practice.  He  owns  valuable 
property,  and  operates  one  of  the  largest  drug  stores 
in  the  South,  and  perhaps  the  largest  owned  by  a 
colored  man.  The  country  people  have  great  con 
fidence  in  him,  not  only  as  a  physician,  but  as  a  splen 
did  business  man,  and  from  far  in  the  country  people 


Among  Colored  People.  54$ 

come  to  get  his  opinion  on  some  business  matter. 
In  our  late  war  with  Spain  the  doctor  induced  over 
thirty  colored  men  to  enlist,  on  the  ground  that  they 
ought  to  show  their  loyalty  to  the  American  govern 
ment.  I  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  present  a  picture 
of  the  doctor. 

JOHN    M.    BROWN. 

Mr.  John  M.  Brown  is  to  me  a  very  interesting 
character.  My  attention  was  first  called  to  him  by  a 
white  man  who  sells  the  goods  manufactured  by  Mr. 
Brown.  The  white  man  \vas  a  Southerner,  but  seemed 
quite  proud  of  him.  He  is  located  in  Macon, 
Ga.,  and  operates  a  broom  factory  on  quite  a  large 
scale,  so  much  so  that  most  of  the  time  he  has  fifteen 
people  employed.  He  makes  only  a  high  grade  of 
brooms  and  sells  them  to  the  white  merchants.  Mr. 
Brown  does  not  send  out  a  white  man  to  sell  his 
goods,  but  goes  himself  and  presents  his  claim  for 
their  patronage  on  the  merits  of  hie  manufactured 
article.  I  am  glad  to  tell  my  readers  that  only  on 
one  or  two  occasions  has  his  color  been  a  hindrance 
to  him  in  the  State  of  Georgia,  as  far  as  the  sale  of 
his  brooms  are  concerned.  Just  one  other  point  of 
interest  that  will,  I  am  sure,  be  appreciated,  and  that 
is,  Mr.  Brown  has  taught  colored  men  the  trade  of 
broom  making,  and  employs  only  members  of  the 
race. 

MR.    CHARLES    W.    CHESTNUT. 

Few  people  are  aware  of  the  fact  that  Mr.  Charles 
W.  Chestnut,  whose  volumes  of  character  sketches 
and  short  stories  have  made  him  famous,  is  a  colored 
35 


546  Evidences  of  Progress 

man.  His  home  is  in  Cleveland,  and  to  meet  him 
on  the  street  one  would  take  him  for  a  clerk  in  a 
store  rather  than  an  author.  Until  within  the  past 
couple  of  years  Mr.  Chestnut  was  a  court  steno 
grapher  in  Cleveland  and  employed  several  assistants. 
He  has  reported  dozens  of  large  conventions  in  this 
city,  and  he  is  known  to  thousands  as  a  stenographer. 
Mr.  Chestnut  is  of  medium  size  and  of  very  slight 
build.  His  hair  is  light  and  he  has  a  small,  light 
mustache.  His  hair  has  a  slight  tendency  to  kink,  but 
this  is  hardly  noticeable.  His  complexion  is  very 
fair,  so  much  so  that  many  Cleveland  people  believe 
him  a  white  man. 

PROVIDENT    HOSPITAL. 

Provident  Hospital  and  Training  School,  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  opened  for  the  care  of  colored  patients  in  this 
city  on  the  4th  day  of  April,  1899,  with  a  staff  of 
nine  colored  physicians  and  a  consulting  staff  of  nine 
white. 

It  has  a  Board  of  Managers  composed  of  colored 
citizens  of  this  city,  it  is  a  regular  chartered  institution, 
and  has  a  capacity  of  fifteen  beds,  modern  operating 
room,  and  three  young  colored  women  in  training. 
Some  of  the  most  difficult  operations  known  to  surgery 
have  been  performed  at  the  hospital  during  the  past 
year.  The  hospital  has  been  furnished  entirely  by 
the  colored  people  of  this  city. 

This  institution  meets  a  long-felt  want,  as  the 
colored  people  are  not  admitted  to  the  white  hospitals 
in  St.  Louis.  Miss  J.  E.  Valentine,  a  graduate  of  the 


Among  Colored  People. 

Freedmen's  Hospital  Training  School,  is  head  nurse. 
The  course  in  the  training  school  is  two  years. 

Dr.  Samuel  P.  Stafford,  a  graduate  of  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
lately  one  of  the  internes  of  Freedmen's  Hospital 
and  Douglass  Hospital,  is  the  physician  in  charge. 
The  future  of  the  hospital  is  full  of  hope  and  grow 
ing  in  usefulness.  Dr.  Curtis  is  President  of  the 
Board  of  Managers;  W.  E.  Jackson,  Secretary;  C.  H. 
Dodge,  Treasurer. 

This  data  should  have  appeared  in  chapter  twenty- 
five  on  Hospitals  and  Homes,  but  came  too  late.  It, 
however,  will  be  of  interest  to  my  readers. 

WARREN    KING. 

Mr.  Warren  King,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  is  making 
a  most  excellent  impression  among  the  better  class 
of  white  people  as  to  his  qualifications  as  a  splendid 
business  man.  Mr.  King  has  taken  charge  of  the 
restaurant  in  what  is  known  as  the  Cumberland 
Flats.  Only  the  very  best  people  live  in  those  Flats, 
and  they  must  be  persons  of  means  to  afford  it.  Mr. 
King  boards  all  who  live  in  those  magnificent  build 
ings.  He  has  a  great  many  friends,  and  is  regarded 
by  those  who  take  meals  in  his  restaurant  as  a  most 
excellent  manager. 

J.    A.     BRABOY   &    SONS. 

I  have  stated  in  several  places  in  this  book  that 
colored  people  are  here  and  there  engaging  in  all 
kinds  of  business.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  call  at- 


548  Evidences  of  Progress 

tention  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Braboy  &  Sons,  of  Kokomo,  Ind. 
These  gentlemen  operate  what  is  known  as  a  "Temple 
of  Music."  They  keep  on  hand  a  good  assortment 
of  high  grade  pianos  and  organs ;  in  fact,  they 
handle  only  the  best  that  is  on  the  market.  In  ad 
dition  to  their  stock  of  pianos  and  organs,  they  keep 
a  general  line  of  music  and  musical  instruments. 
Mr.  Braboy  owns  splendid  property,  and  is  respected 
by  the  leading  people  in  Kokomo. 

MR.    Z.    E.    WALKER. 

Mr.  Z.  E.  Walker,  of  Sumter,  S.  C,  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  merchants  in  that  city.  He  operates 
what  is  known  as  a  general  store,  where  all  kinds 
of  goods  are  sold.  He  owns  a  great  deal  of  very 
valuable  property  in  town  and  one  or  two  plantations 
in  the  country.  He  stands  high  in  business,  church 
and  society.  Mr.  Walker  began  business  with  a 
very  small  amount  of  money,  but  is  now  looked 
upon  as  a  very  well-to-do  man. 

MR.    W.    G.    JOHNSON. 

Mr.  W.  G.  Johnson,  of  Macon,  Ga.,  has  one  of  the 
best  shoe  stores  in  that  city.  His  stock  is  not  only 
large,  but  is  in  every  way  up  to  date.  Mr.  Johnson 
feels  that  if  he  buys  the  best  goods  made  his  people, 
and  especially  the  better  class  of  colored  people,  can 
not  have  that  as  an  excuse  for  giving  their  patronage 
to  the  white  merchants.  Aside  from  his  shoe  store,  he 
owns  some  very  excellent  property ;  in  fact,  he  owns 
the  whole  block  in  which  his  store  is  kept.  He  is 


Among  Colored  People.  549 

a  young  man,  and  I  believe  has  a  useful  future  before 
him. 

JAMES   A.    JOYCE. 

Mr.  James  A.  Joyce,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  is  em 
ployed  by  the  King  Iron  Bridge  Co.  of  that  city. 
Mr.  Joyce  is  the  only  colored  man  engaged  as  a 
bridge  draftsman  in  the  U.  S.  A.  His  work  for  that 
company  is  making  designs  for  high  grade  bridge 
work.  Mr.  Joyce  has  on  several  occasions  been  sent 
out  on  large  contracts  to  oversee  the  construction  of 
some  very  difficult  work  in  their  line.  I  am  sorry 
that  I  am  unable  to  give  a  picture  of  Mr.  Joyce  in 
connection  with  this  brief  mention  of  what  I  regard 
as  a  very  important  character  in  race  history. 

R.    B.    FITZGERALD. 

Mr.  Fitzgerald  is  a  resident  of  Durham,  N.  C.,  and 
is  one  of  the  largest  brick  manufacturers  in  the 
United  States.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  fine  and 
ornamental  brick.  Mr.  Fitzgerald  lives  in  one  of  the 
handsomest  residences  in  Durham.  He  is  also  in 
terested  in  what  is  known  as  the  Durham  Real 
Estate,  Mercantile  and  Manufacturing  Company. 
It  is  not  a  "  trust "  or  grasping  monopoly ;  on  the 
contrary,  it  is  a  trust  for  the  people,  through  which, 
on  the  most  generous  plan,  they  can  with  absolute 
safety  and  ease  become  stockholders,  do  business 
and  become  factors  in  the  mercantile  world. 

This  corporation  is  formed  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  to  promote  manufacturing 
and  mercantile  interests,  thus  becoming  a  factor  in 


550  Evidences  of  Progress 

the  development  of  nature's  resources  as  they  exist 
in  North  Carolina,  thereby  opening  up  an  avenue 
heretofore  unknown  to  colored  people. 

The  shares  are  low,  within  the  reach  of  all.  For 
$IO.OO  one  can  become  a  stockholder  and  will  be 
entitled  to  an  equal  share  of  all  profit,  which  divi 
dends  will  be  declared  and  paid  at  such  periods  as 
will  be  designated  by  their  by-laws. 

With  ample  capital,  backed  by  such  well  known 
parties  as  R.  B.  Fitzgerald,  P.  H.  Smith,  D.  A.  Lane, 
and  others,  under  its  agreements  consolidating  large 
interests,  it  is  able  to  provide  homes  and  investments, 
large  or  small,  at  a  great  benefit  to  its  patrons,  and, 
with  absolute  safety  and  ease,  enable  one  to  be 
come  the  owner  of  the  most  precious  thing  on 
earth — a  home  for  his  family. 

HOSPITAL   AND   TRAINING    SCHOOL    FOR    NURSES. 

The  hospital  and  training  school  located  at  Charles 
ton,  S.  C,  was  organized  in  1897,  for  the  purpose  of 
training  colored  women  as  nurses.  That  such  an 
institution  was  needed  in  that  community  is  evi 
denced  by  the  fact  that  their  nurses  are  always  in 
demand,  and  graduates  find  ready  employment. 

Students  have  been  admitted  to  the  institution,  not 
only  from  Charleston  and  vicinity,  but  from  all  parts 
of  this  State,  and  from  some  adjoining  States. 

The  course  extends  through  two  years,  the  first 
year  being  devoted  to  lectures  and  practical  work  in 
the  hospital,  and  the  second  year  to  practical  work 
in  the  hospital  and  to  outside  cases. 


Among  Colored  People.  551 

Thorough  training  is  given  in  all  branches  of  the 
nurse's  profession,  including  the  nursing  of  surgical 
cases.  Tuition  is  free,  and  nurses  are  given  board 
and  lodging  in  the  hospital  building.  Candidates  for 
admission  to  the  training  school  must  be  of  good 
character,  in  good  health,  and  have  a  common  school 
education. 

Further  information  may  be  procured  by  address 
ing  the  Surgeon-in-Chief,  Dr.  A.  C.  McClennan,  at 
the  hospital,  No.  135  Cannon  St.,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  general  public  is  asked  to  give  what  aid  they 
can  for  the  support  and  development  of  this  most 
worthy  institution.  If  those  who  have  means  to 
give  would  take  into  consideration  that  by  educating 
some  young  colored  lady  as  a  trained  nurse  they  have 
helped  one  more  of  the  race  to  leave  somebody's  cook 
kitchen,  and  enter  a  life  where  they  can  not  only  be 
self-sustaining,  but  their  position  would  give  both 
dignity  and  standing  to  the  race. 

Dr.  A.  C.  McClennan,  who  is  in  charge  of  the 
hospital,  I  found  a  very  pleasant  gentleman,  and  one 
who  is  kept  busy  with  a  large  practice  outside  of  the 
hospital  work.  This  information  came  too  late  to 
be  mentioned  with  other  such  institutions  written  up 
in  my  book. 

DR.    L.    J.    HARRIS. 

Dr.  L.  J.  Harris  is  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a  son  of 
Samuel  Harris,  of  Williamsburg,  the  noted  mer 
chant  referred  to  on  page  300  of  this  book.  Dr. 
Harris  is  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  and  has  taken  a 
special  course  of  study  in  the  treatment  of  the  eye, 


552  Evidences  of  Progress 

ear,  nose  and  throat,  and  has  located  in  Boston,  and 
gives  all  of  his  time  to  this  special  work.  There  have 
been  a  large  number  of  colored  doctors  educated, 
and  I  think  that,  as  a  rule,  they  are  succeeding  in 
their  profession  as  regular  practitioners.  But  Dr. 
Harris  is  the  first  to  establish  himself  as  a  specialist. 
We  most  certainly  wish  him  well  in  this  departure 
from  a  regular  line  of  practice,  and  hope  his  success 
may  inspire  other  young  men  to  follow  in  his 
footsteps. 

MR.    EDWARD    C.    BERRY. 

Mr.  E.  C.  Berry,  owner  and  proprietor  of  a  $60  ooo 
hotel  at  Athens,  Ohio,  is  a  man  that  I  feel  the  world 
ought  to  know.  He  was  born  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  in 
1855  ;  his  education  was  received  at  Albany,  a  ham 
let  in  Athens  county.  When  fifteen  years  of  age 
he  went  to  Athens  and  was  employed  as  a  hodcarrier 
on  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  then  in  course  of 
building.  Mr.  Berry  was  married  in  1875,  and  for  a 
time  he  boarded  his  wife  at  his  own  people's  home. 
His  first  business  venture  was  a  lunch  counter,  which 
he  started  without  any  means,  and  was  already  $40.00 
in  debt.  After  he  had  got  fairly  started  his  wife 
joined  him,  and  in  1878  they  opened  a  restaurant  in 
a  small  building  on  the  site  of  the  present  hotel,  and 
Mr.  Berry's  peculiar  talent  for  serving  palatable  viands 
made  him  the  popular  caterer  of  the  town.  His 
restaurant  was  often  patronized  by  traveling  men  who 
would  arrive  too  late  to  get  a  meal  at  the  hotel,  and 
because  of  the  most  excellent  meals  served  at  his 
restaurant  those  men  would  ask.  Why  do  you  not 


Among  Colored  People.  553 

open  a  hotel  ?  and  at  the  same  time  would  say,  If  you 
will,  you  can  count  on  my  being  one  of  your  patrons. 
So  many  of  those  who  took  meals  at  his  restaurant 
said  about  the  same  thing  to  him  that  he  felt  en- 


MR.  E.  C.  BERRY. 


couraged  to  make  the  effort.  In  1892  Mr.  Berry 
purchased  the  adjoining  building  and  commenced 
the  erection  of  a  twenty-room  hotel.  From  the  very 
first  the  business  paid ;  the  house  was  new,  neat  and 
clean,  and  always  full  of  people,  so  much  so  that 


554 


Evidences  of  Progress 


Mr.  Berry  soon  found  that  his  house  was  inadequate 
for  the  business.  In  1894  he  built  two  large  sample 
rooms,  over  which  he  arranged  four  more  sleeping 
rooms.  But  one  year  later  was — because  of  the  in 
crease  in  his  trade — forced  to  again  enlarge  his 


E.  c.  BERRY'S  $60,000  HOTEL. 

house.  Up  to  that  time  he  had  spent  very  near  five 
thousand  dollars  in  improvements.  In  1899  Mr. 
Berry  enlarged  his  house  to  its  present  capacity, 
which  is  forty-six  sleeping  rooms,  a  dining  room  with 
a  seating  capacity  of  seventy-five,  a  light,  well-veq- 


Among  Colored  People.  555 

tilated  room  used  exclusively  for  writing  20  by  40 
feet,  one  reading  room  15  by  30  feet,  four  good, 
light  sample  rooms  on  ground  floor,  and  the  whole 
house  is  heated  with  three  large  hot-water  heaters, 
with  public  bath-rooms  on  each  floor,  and  several 
rooms  with  bath.  The  success  that  has  come  to 
Mr.  Berry  in  the  hotel  business  is  due  wholly  to  the 
fact  that  he  is  a  natural-born  caterer  and  a  splendid 
manager.  I  have  traveled  for  years  in  this  and  other 
countries,  and  I  am  free  to  say  that  the  "  Hotel 
Berry  "  is  one  of  the  best  furnished  houses  I  ever  saw. 
Mr.  Berry  gives  his  personal  attention  to  every  de 
tail  that  will  make  those  who  are  guests  in  his 
house  comfortable.  His  trade  comes  only  from  the 
best  people  on  the  road.  He  employs  two  clerks, 
one  white  and  one  colored.  Colored  people  who 
are  refined  and  represent  the  same  class  of  whites 
who  stop  there  are  never  turned  away.  I  was 
pleased  to  hear  him  say  that  much  of  his  suc 
cess  was  due  to  the  constant  oversight  his  wife  had 
of  affairs  in  the  inside  management  of  the  house. 
I  only  wish  I  could  write  an  article  that  would 
paint  a  word-picture  strong  enough  to  make  the 
American  people  see  what  a  magnificent  hotel  Mr. 
Berry  really  keeps.  Aside  from  his  very  busy  life, 
he  finds  time  to  do  a  lot  of  church  work,  and  is 
looked  upon  as  the  leading  man  in  the  colored 
Baptist  church  of  Athens. 

MR.    DUMAR    WATKINS. 

Dumar  Watkins  is   another  member  of  the  race 


556 


Evidences  of  Progress 


who  should  be  known  by  the  American  people  at 
large.  Mr.  Watkins  is  holding  a  position  and  doing 
a  line  of  work  that  has  never  been  done  by  any  colored 
man  in  connection  with  a  white  institution  such  as 


MR.  DUMAR  WATKINS. 


the  one  with  which  he  is  associated.  My  attention 
was  called  to  him  while  lecturing  at  Princeton,  N.  J., 
by  Rev.  J.  Q.  Johnson.  I  am  sure  it  will  be  as  much 
a  surprise  to  my  readers,  and  I  hope  as  much  of  a 
pleasure,  as  it  was  to  me,  when  I  learned  that  the 


Among  Colored  People.  557 

pathologist  of  Princeton  University  was  a  colored 
man  in  the  person  of  Dumar  Watkins.  When  we 
called  upon  him  we  found  him  at  his  work,  prepar 
ing  some  pathological  slides  for  microscopic  use. 
He  is  much  liked  at  the  university,  and  is  considered 
very  proficient  in  his  work.  The  picture  I  present 
here  of  Mr.  Watkins  is  a  splendid  likeness  of  the 
man.  I  need  not  tell  my  readers  that  Princeton 
University  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  greatest  schools 
in  the  world,  and  it  ought  to  very  much  increase 
the  colored  people's  race  pride  to  know  that  a  mem 
ber  of  the  race  holds  such  a  position  there  as  Mr. 
Watkins  occupies. 

MR.    LEWIS    H.    LATIMER. 

Lewis  H.  Latimer,  of  New  York  city,  is  the  only 
member  of  the  race  engaged  in  the  line  of  work  he 
represents.  In  1880  Mr.  Latimer  entered  the  em 
ploy  of  the  United  States  Electric  Lighting  Com 
pany  as  a  draftsman  and  private  secretary  to  Sir 
Hiram  S.  Maxim,  of  Maxim  gun  fame.  In  1881 
Mr.  Latimer  was  sent  to  England  by  the  above- 
named  company  to  establish  the  manufacture  of  the 
incandescent  electric  lamps  in  the  factory  of  the 
Maxim,  Weston  Electric  Light  Company  of  Lon 
don.  He  returned  in  the  latter  part  of  1882,  and 
continued  only  a  few  months  in  the  employment  of 
the  company  who  sent  him  abroad.  For  some  time 
he  served  as  draftsman  and  electrician  in  several 
minor  companies.  He  was  employed  by  the  Edison 
Electric  Light  Company  in  1886,  and  has  remained 


558 


Evidences  of  Progress 


with  them  practically  ever  since,  although  that  com 
pany  has  been  absorbed  by  the  General  Electric 
Lighting  Company.  Mr.  Latimer  is  kept  in  what  is 
known  as  the  legal  expert  department,  and  is  regarded 


MR.  LEWIS    H.  LATIMER. 

as  a  very  competent  man  in  his  profession.  He 
stands  almost  alone  in  his  work  as  a  colored  man. 
I  have  only  known  of  about  three  members  of  the 
race  who  have  made  any  effort  along  that  line,  but 
the  other  two  never  succeeded  in  making  any  head 
way,  at  least  not  enough  to  become  known  to  any 


Among  Colored  People.  559 

extent.  Now,  one  can  easily  see  that  the  people 
who  employ  Mr.  Latimer  must  hold  him  in  high 
esteem  and  place  in  him  the  most  implicit  confi 
dence,  or  they  would  never  have  sent  him  to  another 
country  to  represent  their  business.  This  mention 
of  Mr.  Latimer  is  another  evidence  that  colored 
people  are  gradually  but  surely  getting  into  all  lines 
of  business  and  professions,  and  I  hope  that  in  time 
we  may  call  attention  to  other  successful  electri 
cians  among  the  race. 

MR.    J.    S.    ATWOOD. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Atwood,  of  Ripley,  Ohio,  is  a  member 
of  the  race  who  has  a  great  many  friends  and  ad 
mirers  among  both  white  and  colored  people.  At 
present  Mr.  Atwood  is  engaged  in  the  livery  busi 
ness  on  a  very  large  scale.  His  horses  and  carriages 
are  the  best,  and  his  trade  comes  from  the  leading 
people  in  the  city.  He  not  only  owns  the  large 
building  where  his  business  is  carried  on,  but  he 
owns  quite  a  number  of  others  in  the  place.  He 
was  born  a  slave  in  Alabama,  and  is  a  brother  of 
Mr.  W.  Q.  Atwood,  of  Saginaw,  Mich.,  who  is  also 
mentioned  in  this  book.  For  years  he  has  been 
active  in  the  interest  of  his  race,  especially  in 
defending  their  rights.  He  was  one  who  urged 
Bishop  Arnett  to  introduce  the  bill  in  the  Ohio 
legislature  that  mixed  the  schools  of  the  State, 
and  in  that  way  gave  several  thousand  colored 
children  an  educational  opportunity  who  had  before 
that  been  kept  out  of  school,  as  there  were  only 


56o 


Evidences  of 


colored  schools  in  towns  where  the  colored  popula 
tion  was  large.  For  sixteen  years  Mr.  Atwood  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  councilmen  of  Ripley,  Ohio. 
He  has  always  been  a  strong  and  very  influential 


MR.  J.  S.  ATWOOD. 

Republican,  but  his  general  popularity  as  a  leader 
and  strong  man  was  such  that  he  was  chosen  by  a 
Democratic  governor  to  take  the  presidency  of  the 
Ohio  Institution  for  the  Education  of  the  Blind,  lo 
cated  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  served  as  president  of 


Among  Colored  People.  561 

this  institution  for  five  years,  and  while  there  brought 
about  many  reforms  in  the  interest  of  the  race.  Be 
fore  he  went  there  colored  people  had  never  held  po 
sitions  of  any  kind  at  the  institution  ;  in  fact,  colored 
children  had  been  put  off  by  themselves  to  both  eat 
and  sleep.  Mr.  Atwood  soon  put  a  stop  to  that  sort 
of  thing,  and  he  also  appointed  several  colored 
people  to  different  positions  about  the  institution, 
such  as  clerks  and  teachers.  Some  of  the  colored 
teachers  appointed  by  him  gave  such  general  satis 
faction  that  they  are  still  retained,  atmough  he  has 
been  away  for  years.  At  Ripley  Mr.  Atwood  is 
looked  upon  as  a  very  important  citizen,  and  his 
color  in  no  way  stands  in  the  way  of  his  popularity 
and  usefulness. 

GEORGE   W.   FRANKLIN,   JR. 

George  W.  Franklin,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Rome,  Ga., 
December  II,  1865.  He  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade  with  his  father,  who  is  still  living  and  engaged 
at  his  trade.  Mr.  Franklin  saved  his  money  from 
childhood,  and  by  the  time  he  was  a  man  he  had 
enough  to  start  business  with.  His  first  effort  in  a 

o 

business  way  was  a  hack  line  and  livery  stable ;  in 
this  he  succeeded.  Seeing  the  need  of  a  colored 
undertaker  in  Rome,  he  began  by  making  his  own 
hearse,  which  was  the  first  ever  owned  by  a  colored 
man  in  Rome.  In  time  he  wanted  a  larger  field  for 
his  business,  and  moved  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and 
opened  an  undertaker's  establishment  on  a  larger 
scale.  In  five  years'  time  he  built  up  a  business  that 
36 


562 


Evidences  of  Progress 


brought  him  several  thousand  dollars  per  year.  He 
now  owns  three  beautiful  funeral  cars  and  landau 
carriages,  dead  wagons  and  a  beautiful  lot  of  white 
horses.  Mr.  Franklin  has  over  ten  thousand  dol- 


GEORGE   W.    FRANKLIN,  JR. 

lars  invested  in  his  business  and  is  out  of  debt. 
He  is  recognized  by  white  undertakers  to  the  ex 
tent  that  when  either  he  or  they  have  large  funerals 
they  will  exchange  carriages  with  each  other.  He 
buys  only  the  best  of  everything  used  in  his  busi 
ness,  and  has  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  for  burial 


Among  Colored  People.  563 

purposes,  which  is  known  as  East  View  Cemetery. 
I  found  him  a  very  pleasant  man.  He  is  much 
interested  in  the  race,  and  when  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington  called  a  meeting  in  1900  of  the  colored 
business  men  of  this  country,  which  met  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  Mr.  Franklin  took  an  active  part,  and,  in  fact, 
gave  an  address  there  that  was  regarded  as  very  able 
by  the  press  of  Boston. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

NATIONAL    BAPTIST    PUBLISHING    BOARD. 

THE  National  Baptist  Publishing  Board,  located  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  is,  beyond  doubt,  the  largest  and 
by  far  the  best  equipped  printing  plant  operated  by 
colored  people.  This  establishment  was  started  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  some  of  the  enormous  amount 
of  printing  done  for  the  colored  people,  in  the  way  oi 
Sunday-school  literature  and  regular  church  publi 
cations,  into  the  hands  of  the  race,  in  order  that  em 
ployment  might  be  given  to  those  who  were  already 
competent  printers,  and  at  the  same  time  encourage 
others  to  learn  the  trade.  Rev.  R.  H.  Boyd,  D.  D., 
is  the  general  secretary.  He  has  shown  himself  a 
very  active  and  efficient  man  in  his  place.  The  suc 
cess  of  this  enterprise  has  far  surpassed  their  most 
sanguine  hopes.  The  board  does  all  kinds  of  print 
ing,  even  book  work  of  a  high  order.  I  think  it  no 
more  than  fair  to  them  and  the  public  that  I  give 
here  a  part  of  the  secretary's  yearly  report  for  1900 
and  a  part  of  1901  : 

"  The  work  of  our  Publishing  Board  has  been  con 
ducted  this  year  on  the  same  plan  as  the  past  four 
years,  by  a  board  of  managers,  a  secretary,  treasurer 
and  general  manager.  The  literary  department  has 
been  conducted  by  an  editor-in-chief,  with  an  editorial 
staff.  We  are  glad  to  say  that  every  department  of 
(564) 


Among  Colored  People.  565 

this  work  has  been  conducted  on  strict  business 
principles.  Our  board  has  held  three  meetings  in 
the  rooms  of  the  publishing  house,  examining  the 
machinery  and  plant  thoroughly,  and  has  appointed 
an  auditor,  who  has  gone  carefully  over  all  of  the 
books  and  accounts  and  attached  his  certificate  to 
each  quarterly  report  rendered  by  the  Publishing 
Board.  We  are  glad  to  say  that  the  work  is  no 
longer  an  experiment,  but  a  reality.  We  have  the 
best  and  most  thoroughly  equipped  publishing  plant 
in  America  owned  and  operated  by  negroes.  In  our 
judgment,  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  ($75,000)  is 
a  very  low  estimate  for  this  plant,  for  if  it  were  capi 
talized  for  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  ($100,000) 
it  would  pay  a  reasonable  dividend.  This  plant  has 
only  a  small  debt,  and  this  is  mostly  on  the  real  estate. 
It  is  strange  that  all  of  this  has  been  paid  for  out  of 
the  profit  arising  from  the  business,  and  yet  the  Pub 
lishing  Board  has  made  large  appropriations  each 
year  to  missions. 

"  Last  year  we  called  your  attention  to  the  fact 
that  there  had  been  so  great  an  increase  in  the  volume 
of  business  that  we  were  compelled  to  make  general 
improvements.  We  did  not  expect,  however,  at  the 
time  to  make  the  improvements  so  extensive,  but  the 
great  enthusiasm  created  by  the  delegates  on  return 
ing  from  the  convention  at  Richmond  aroused  such 
interest  everywhere,  that  the  volume  of  business  has 
far  surpassed  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  the 
most  hopeful  friend  of  the  Publishing  Board. 

"  The  improvements  begun  last  year  are  fully  com- 


566  Evidences  of  Progress 

pleted.  We  have  also  added  a  machine  known  as 
the  arithmometer  and  two  typewriters  to  our  clerical 
department.  We  have  added  one  roller  backer  ma 
chine  and  one  book  and  pamphlet  trimmer,  together 


\ 


.    .  ,  ;»:.;•  <• 

REV.  R.  H.  BOYD,  D 


with  a  great  deal  of  bookbinders'  appliances  to  our 
bindery.  We  have  added  one  more  steam-engine 
and  a  full  electric  light  plant  to  our  power-house, 
three  more  printing  presses  to  our  press-room,  a 


Among  Colored  People.  567 

full  set  of  linotype   machinery,  together  with  a  large 
supply  of  printing  material  to  our  composing-room. 

"  The  greatest  need  to-day  of  our  publishing  plant 
is  more  room.  We  occupy  three  brick  buildings, 
one,  two  and  three  stories  respectively.  These  are 
crowded  to  their  utmost  capacity,  and  yet  the  board 
has  work  of  its  own  and  uncompleted  contracts  which 
are  more  than  ninety  days  behind. 


"  This  department  is  almost  exclusively  under  the 
management  of  the  secretary  and  general  manager, 
who  has  conducted  the  business  in  such  a  way  as  to 
challenge  the  admiration  and  confidence  of  the  com 
mercial  world,  bringing  respect  and  honor  to  the  de 
nomination  and  credit  to  himself.  We  are  glad  to 
say  that  his  careful  business  management  has  brought 
almost  unlimited  credit  to  our  publishing  concern  in 
commercial  circles. 

"  It  would  be  well  under  this  head  to  call  the  atten 
tion  of  the  members  of  the  convention  to  the  profits 
or  income  arising  from  this  business  to  the  denomi 
nation.  By  referring  to  our  financial  statement,  it 
will  be  seen  that  after  meeting  all  expenses  of  publi 
cation  the  Publishing  Board  was  able  to  pay  cash  for 
$6,000  worth  of  machinery,  which  will  stand  as  a 
permanent  fund,  and  has  an  uncollected  account 
standing  out  in  open  accounts  and  negotiable  notes 
to  the  amount  of  over  $2,425.37,  and  still  made  an 
appropriation  of  over  $8,000  to  missions,  thus  show 
ing  that  the  Publishing  Board  is  not  only  self-sup- 


568  Evidences  of  Progress 

porting,  but  has  paid  a  dividend  to  the  denomination 
this  year  of  $16,425.37. 

"  Our  Publishing  Board  is  not  only  publishing 
pamphlets  and  Sunday-school  magazines  in  their 
own  name,  but  is  really  doing  the  work.  All  type 
setting,  presswork  and  binding  is  done  by  our  own 
people.  They  are  also  engaged  in  real  bookbinding. 
This  is  furnishing  employment  to  a  large  number  of 
skilled  mechanics  who  could  not  obtain  like  employ 
ment  in  any  other  institution." 

I  am  sure  that  the  statements  made  by  Secretary 
Boyd  will  be  very  encouraging  to  all  who  read  them. 
One  of  the  leading  men  in  this  great  work  is  the  Rev. 
E.  C.  Morris,  D.  D.,  who  is  president  of  the  National 
Baptist  Convention.  He  is  a  very  progressive  man, 
and  has  done  much  for  the  elevation  of  the  colored 
people  at  large.  From  the  fact  that  Rev.  Morris  has 
been  president  of  the  national  convention  for  years 
shows  the  high  esteem  he  is  held  in  by  the  Baptist 
denomination. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII 

COLORED    SOLDIERS. 

IN  this  chapter  we  introduce  to  our  readers  Lieu 
tenant  Charles  Young,  who  is  the  second  colored 
graduate  from  West  Point.  He  was  for  some  four 
years  Professor  of  Military  Science  and  Tactics  at 
Wilberforce,  Ohio.  Mr.  Young,  as  can  be  seen  from 
his  picture,  is  a  man  of  splendid  military  appearance, 
and  is  regarded  by  all  who  know  him  as  a  most  excel 
lent  young  man.  It  is  well  known  that  in  our  Civil 
War  the  colored  soldiers  made  a  reputation  for  them 
selves  as  brave  men.  It  has  not,  as  yet,  been  much 
written  about  by  those  who  have  given  a  history  of 
that  war.  But  merit  will  win  and  become  known  in 
time.  I  reproduce  here  mention  made  of  colored 
soldiers  by  General  Guy  V.  Henry,  U.  S.  A.,  himself 
a  veteran  soldier,  who,  in  a  recent  report,  speaking  of 
colored  American  troops,  says  :  "  In  garrison  they  are 
clean,  self-respecting,  and  proud  of  their  uniform  ;  in 
the  field,  patient  and  cheerful  under  hardships  and 
privations,  never  growling  or  discontented,  doing 
what  is  required  of  them  without  a  murmur." 

I  also  give  an  article  that  appeared  in  the  Pittsburg 
Times  relating  to  the  colored  troops  in  our  late  war 
with  Spain  : 

"Amid  all  the  praise  that  has  been  bestowed  on 
(569) 


570 


Evidences  of  Progress 


our  fighters  on  land  and  sea  since  hostilities  began 
but  little  has  been  said  of  the  colored  troops,  of  whom 
there  were  several  regiments  in  the  thick  of  the  fight 


ing  around  Santiago. 


When  the 


Rough-Riders  re- 


IBHBI 


LIEUTENANT   CHARLES    YOUNG. 


ceived  their  baptism  of  fire  the  country  rang  with 
their  praises,  but  few  paused  to  note  that  the  colored 
troops  fought  side  by  side  with  them  with  equal 
bravery,  and,  in  fact,  rescued  them  from  their  perilous 


Evidences  of  Progress  57 l 

position.  In  the  subsequent  fighting  at  El  Caney  and 
at  San  Juan,  before  Santiago,  they  were  second  to 
none  in  the  bravery  of  their  fighting  and  in  the  in 
trepidity  of  their  charges.  They  met  the  deadly  rain 
of  bullets  as  unflinchingly  as  the  best  of  their  white 
comrades,  and,  in  proportion  to  their  numbers,  they 
furnished  as  numerous  victims  to  the  missiles  of  the 
enemy  as  any  of  the  other  commands.  Under  their 
dark  skins  was  the  same  warlike  and  patriotic  spirit 
that  throbbed  in  the  nerves  of  their  paler  fellow-sol 
diers. 

"  On  that  field  they  once  more  vindicated  the  wis 
dom  that  has  given  them  citizenship,  and  showed  that 
they  are  made  of  the  stuff  which  constitutes  the 
modern  American  and  causes  him  to  be  respected 
and  admired.  No  men  ever  fought  for  their  country 
more  bravely  than  did  all  the  men  who  were  engaged 
at  Santiago,  and  among  them  all  none  exceeded  the 
colored  men  in  all  the  attributes  of  true  soldiers  and 
patriots.  They  were  there,  Americans  of  the  Amer 
icans,  battling  for  their  country,  and  the  difference  in 
the  color  of  their  skin  made  no  difference  in  the 
quality  of  their  courage  or  service.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  when  all  come  to  thoroughly  understand  the 
quality  of  the  negro  as  a  soldier  a  little  more  consid 
eration  may  be  paid  to  his  rights  as  a  citizen." 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

THE    METROPOLITAN    MERCANTILE    &    REALTY    CO.    AND 

OTHER    BUSINESS    AND     PROFESSIONAL     INTERESTS 

OF     THE     RACE. 

Of  the  various  enterprises  launched  within  the  last 
decade,  none  appear  to  me  to  have  made  more  rapid 
progress  than  the  Metropolitan  Mercantile  &  Realty 
Company.  Persons  attempting  to  find  the  cause  of 
the  rapid  growth  of  this  great  institution  need  only 
visit  the  Home  Office  of  this  company  and  interview 
its  officers.  To  do  so,  one  will  certainly  become 
convinced  that  the  Company  is  headed  by  a  set  of 
men  who  have  the  ambition  and  zeal  of  youth,  but  at 
the  same  time  the  caution  and  foresight  of  men  of 
long  experience  in  the  ways  and  tendencies  of  the 
business  world. 

We  know  of  no  company  that  is  more  in  accord 
with  the  spirit  of  the  age;  no  company  whose  managers 
better  interpret  and  better  understand  the  principles 
of  successful  business  enterprises  than  those  of  the 
Metropolitan  Mercantile  &  Realty  Company.  The 
company  was  incorporated  in  1900,  and  its  perma 
nent  headquarters  established  at  150  Nassau  street, 
which  is  in  the  heart  of  the  business  section  of  the 
great  city  of  New  York  ;  being  within  a  few  blocks 
of  the  world-famed  Wall  street;  and  although  this 
company  seems  to  have  caught  the  spirit  of  this 
(572) 


Among  Colored  People.  573 

great  financial  centre,  it  lias  not  copied  its  daring 
speculative  features.  For  while  the  Metropolitan 
Mercantile  &  Realty  Company  is  entirely  progressive, 
it  is  at  the  same  time  conservative ;  as  I  am  told  that 
its  capital  is  invested  only  in  improved  real  estate. 

The  company  has  agents  and  branch  offices  in  ten 
different  States,  and  through  them  it  is  always  able  to 
invest  its  money  in  the  best  real  estate  securities, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  assist  worthy  colored  peo 
ple  in  getting  homes.  The  company  also  deals 
in  groceries,  and  I  am  told  makes  a  handsome  profit 
out  of  them,  and  for  the  last  two  years  has  paid  a 
dividend  to  its  stockholders  of  seven  per  cent. 
From  the  present  outlook  the  dividends  will  in 
crease  in  the  near  future,  as  the  business  is  growing 
rapidly. 

The  company  began  business  with  a  capital  stock 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  has  since  in 
creased  the  same  to  five  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
and  the  par  value  to  ten  dollars ;  and  while  the  stock 
is  sellingr  at  five  dollars  at  the  time  of  coiner  to  the 

o  o  o 

press  with  this  edition,  it  will  gradually  increase  until 
its  market  value  reaches  ten  dollars. 

Of  the  different  testimonials  which  the  company 
has,  showing  what  the  leading  men  think  of  it,  we 
print  the  one  below  from  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Brooks, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  St.  Mark's  M.  E.  Church,  New  York 
City. 

The  president  of  the  company,  Mr.  P.  Sheridan 
Ball,  whose  picture  is  herein  contained,  is  a  thorough, 
wide-awake,  energetic  and  progressive  young  man, 


574 


Evidences  of  Progress 


and  possesses  many  qualities  of  the  true  leader  of  a 
great  company.  He  is  quick  to  see  an  opportunity, 
and  equally  quick  to  grasp  it;  he  is  untiring  in  the 
work  and  quite  original.  He  graduated  from  a 


P.    SHERIDAN    BALL,    PRESIDENT. 

business  college  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  for  many 
years  a  partner  in  the  Centennial  Manufacturing 
Company. 

Mr.  John  H.  Atkins,  the  treasurer,  and  Mr.  L.  C. 
Collins,  the   secretary,  may  be  treated   collectively. 


Among  Colored  People.  575 

They  were  both  Virginians  formerly,  and  both  gradu 
ated  in  1893  from  the  Hampton  Normal  and  In 
dustrial  Institute,  the  school  that  furnishes  to  the 
world  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington,  and  they  both 


JOHN    H.    ATKINS,  TREASURER. 

again  graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  New 
York  University  in  1897,  and  are  members  of  the 
New  York  bar.  Their  training,  then,  and  their  keen 
legal  minds  make  them  eminently  fitted  for  the 
position  which  they  hold. 


576  Evidences  of  Progress 

In  addition  to  the  Metropolitan  Mercantile  & 
Realty  features,  the  company  has  an  insurance  de 
partment,  the  Metropolitan  Mutual  Benefit  Associa 
tion.  This  department  has  a  membership  of  over 


L.    C.    COLLINS,    SECRETARY. 

ten  thousand,  and  pays  larger  claims  than  any  other 
of  its  kind.  It  is  established  in  many  different  cities 
and  States,  and  has  several  thousand  members  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  alone. 

The  company,  while   giving  an  advantage  to    all 


Among  Colored  People.  577 

who  pay  cash  for  their  stock  by  allowing  a  discount 
of  six  per  cent.,  at  the  same  time  caters  to  the  small 
investor  as  well,  and  persons  may  purchase  stock  in 
blocks  of  five  or  more  shares,  and  pay  one  dollar 
per  share  upon  subscribing,  and  forty  cents  per  share 
monthly  until  the  amount  subscribed  for  is  paid. 
For  the  benefit  of  persons  wanting  more  information 
about  this  company  than  the  foregoing,  we  advise 
them  to  write  the  Home  Office,  150  Nassau  street, 
New  York  City,  N..Y. 

MRS.    FANNIE    BARRIER    WILLIAMS. 

Mrs.  Williams  was  born  in  Brockport,  N.  Y.,  and 
received  a  collegiate  education.  She  is  petite  in 
stature,  with  a  complexion  of  clear  light  brown,  and 
delicacy  of  feature.  Her  voice  is  singularly  soft  and 
sympathetic  in  tone.  There  is  a  pathetic  quality  in 
her  public  speaking  that  never  fails  to  touch  the 
hearts  of  her  listeners.  Her  most  popular  lectures 
are:  "What  Will  You  Do  With  Our  Women?" 
"  Religion  and  the  American  Negro,"  "  Prudence 
Crandall ;  or,  A  Modern  Canterbury  Tale,"  "  Oppor 
tunities  of  Western  Women,"  "Opportunities  and 
Responsibilities  of  American  Colored  Women." 

I  have  been  anxious  for  several  years  to  present  a 
cut  of  Mrs.  Williams,  and  mention  of  her  very  useful 
life  for  the  elevation  of  her  people.  I  regret  very 
much  that  we  have  not  hundreds  more  such  brilliant 
women  to  take  up  just  such  work  as  she  has  done 
with  such  excellent  success.  I  give  here  a  few  of 
the  many  press  notices  that  have  appeared  in  all  or 
many  of  our  leading  papers. 
37 


57 


Evidences  of  Progress 


"  Mrs.  Williams  takes  the  greatest  interest  in  all 
things  which  pertain  to  the  well-being  of  the  colored 
people,  and  she  never  hesitates  to  write  or  speak  in 
their  behalf.  As  a  lecturer  she  is  in  great  demand. 


MRS.    FANNIE  BARRIER  WILLIAMS. 


She  has  appeared  several  times  in  All  Souls'  Church, 
this  city;  at  Oak  Park,  Riverside,  Hinsdale  and  in 
many  cities  and  towns  in  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and 
Illinois  during  the  last  year." — Cliic ago  Evening  Post. 


Among  Colored  People. 

"  Mrs.  Fannie  Barrier  Williams,  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  Illinois  Women's  Alliance,  who  was 
a  member  of  the  recent  Woman's  Congress  at  Wash 
ington,  lectured  in  Providence,  New  York  and  Jersey 
City  during  the  past  week  on  '  Our  Women.'  Mrs. 
Williams  is  the  lady  whose  application  for  member 
ship  in  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club  raised  such  a 
rumpus  in  November  of  last  year.  She  is  a  woman 
of  more  than  usual  intelligence,  has  a  very  pleasing 
address,  and  is  an  agreeable  public  speaker." — New 
York  Sun. 

'  To  hear  Mrs.  Williams,'  says  one  who  listened 
to  her  in  Chicago,  '  is  to  feel  a  new  conviction  of  the 
possibilities  of  the  race  she  represents,  and  a  new 
sense  of  responsibility  for  the  unjust  conditions 
against  which  this  race  struggles.'  Mrs.  Williams  is 
one  of  whom  Frederick  Douglass  speaks  in  terms  of 
warmest  admiration." — Kalamazoo  Daily  News. 

Mrs.  Williams  is  the  wife  of  S.  Laing  Williams,  of 
Chicago,  who  is  a  lawyer  of  great  ability,  and  by 
push  and  constant  application  has  worked  up  a 
splendid  practice.  He,  like  his  wife,  takes  an  active 
part  in  every  movement  that  will  advance  the  interest 
of  the  colored  people.  Mr.  Williams  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  National  Negro  Business  League ;  in 
fact,  is  one  of  the  officers  of  the  League.  The  or 
ganization  was  put  on  foot  by  Booker  T.  Washington, 
and  has  done  great  good  for  the  race. 

MISS    CORA    J.    HAWKINS. 

We    give   in  this  sketch  a  cut  of  Miss  Cora  J. 


580  Evidences  of  Progress 

Hawkins,  a  Chicago  lady  who  has  a  public  sten 
ographic  office  in  the  Omaha  Building,  Chicago.  So 
far  as  we  know,  Miss  Hawkins  is  the  only  young 
colored  woman  managing  an  office  of  this  kind  on 


MISS    CORA    J.    HAWKINS. 

her  own  responsibility.  Fitting  herself  for  this  kind 
of  work  in  the  High  School  at  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
Miss  Hawkins  used  every  means  possible  to  make 
herself  thoroughly  proficient.  After  working  for 
three  years  on  a  salary  of  $5.00  per  week  for  the  first 


Among  Colored  People.  581 

six  months,  and  later  at  $8.00  per  week,  she  gained 
a  thorough  and  valuable  business  training;  but,  as 
there  was  no  chance  for  further  advancement  with 
this  firm,  Miss  Hawkins  decided  then  that  she  would 
branch  out  for  herself.  By  dint  of  perseverance  and 
dogged  determination,  she  at  this  time  has  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  good  paying  business. 

In  my  interview  with  Miss  Hawkins  she  consented 
to  this  write-up,  because  she  wished  to  have  colored 
boys  and  girls  see  the  advisability  of  getting  at  least 
a  high  school  education,  and  then,  if  they  have  the 
slightest  liking  for  a  business  education,  to  fit  them 
selves  for  stenographers  and  bookkeepers.  Miss 
Hawkins  has  had  many  opportunities  of  securing 
good  positions  for  colored  stenographers,  but  says 
that  in  all  her  acquaintance  there  are  not  six  whom 
she  could  recommend  as  being  thoroughly  com 
petent.  Some  who  are  rapid  typewriter  operators 
are  poor  spellers  and  neglect  their  shorthand  entirely, 
and  others  have  attended  some  business  college  for 
six  months  and  make  no  further  attempt  to  perfect 
themselves,  being  apparently  thoroughly  satisfied 
with  what  little  they  could  learn  in  that  six  months, 
and  expecting  to  secure  a  good  paying  position  when 
they  were  in  reality  mere  beginners  in  the  work,  and 
had  had  no  experience  whatever.  Miss  Hawkins 
states  that  often  when  she  was  seeking  a  position  she 
offered  to  work  without  any  compensation  in  order 
to  gain  experience.  It  is  her  belief,  and  it  is  the  belief 
of  most  broad-minded  people,  that  there  is  plenty  ol 
work  for  all  colored  men  and  women,  boys  and  girls, 


582  Evidences  of  Progress 

who  are  thoroughly  competent  to  fill  the  positions 
they  seek,  and  who  are  not  easily  discouraged. 

Miss  Hawkins  has  at  times  employed  four  or  five 
assistants,  but  in  nearly  all  cases  they  were  (neces 
sarily)  white  girls. 

Not  long  ago  a  prominent  business  man  offered  to 
employ  all  colored  help  in  his  office  if  he  could  find 
enough  who  were  competent — both  men  and  women. 
After  having  talked  with  this  man,  and  arousing  his 
sympathy  and  getting  this  offer  of  assistance  to  the 
race,  Miss  Hawkins  was  very  much  embarrassed  to 
find  that  it  was  no  easy  matter;  in  fact,  almost  an 
impossibility,  to  find  colored  bookkeepers,  shipping 
clerks,  stenographers,  etc.,  who  (to  use  the  man's  own 
words)  were  honest,  thoroughly  trustworthy,  well 
educated ;  in  short,  persons  who  were  capable,  and 
would  be  perfectly  loyal  whether  their  employer  was 
out  of  the  city  or  in  the  office  every  day  to  see  that 
their  work  was  well  done. 

There  are  opportunities  for  all  colored  persons 
who  are  prepared  to  grasp  them. 

MISS    MATTIE    JENNETE    JOHNSON. 

Miss  Mattie  J.  Johnson  is  employed  as  a  saleslady 
in  Siegel,  Cooper  &  Company's  large  store  in  the 
city  of  Chicago.  She  began  work  for  them  in  1893, 
and  has  been  there  ever  since.  Miss  Johnson  is  in 
the  grocery  department,  and  is  regarded  by  her  em 
ployers  as  one  of  the  most  competent  women  in  their 
store.  She  has  many  warm  friends  among  the 
patrons  of  the  establishment.  We  are  glad  that  we 


Among  Colored  People. 


583 


are  able  to  present  with  this  short  mention  of  Miss 
Johnson  a  splendid  picture  of  her,  and  while  she  is 
the  first  colored  lady  thus  employed — knowing  that 
she  was  colored  when  they  engaged  her — I  am  sure 


MISS    MATTIE   JENNETE    JOHNSON. 

she  will  not  be  the  last,  and  I  hope  that  this  mention 
of  her  may  stimulate  many  young  women  to  prepare 
themselves  for  some  useful  place,  for  there  is  no 
doubt  in  my  mind  but  many  positions  will  be  open 
to  colored  people  in  the  future  that  have  been  denied 


584  Evidences  of  Progress 

them  in  the  past.  Miss  Johnson  came  from  the 
South  to  Chicago.  Many  of  her  relatives  are  still  in 
the  South. 

F.    D.    CHENAULT. 


F.    D.    CHENAULT. 


Mr.  F.  D.  Chenault  is  another  member  of  the  race 
whose  life  ought  to  be  an  inspiration  to  all  who  read 
this  brief  sketch  of  his  business  success.  He  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  in  1868,  and  moved  to  Kansas,  in 


Am o Jig  Colored  People.  585 

1880,  where  he  learned  the  butcher's  trr.de.  After 
four  years  of  hard  work  he  was  competent  to  do  all 
work  in  his  trade  and  demand  a  good  salary.  Mr. 
Chenault  came  to  Chicago  in  1891,  where  he  started 
in  business  for  himself.  Having  only  $28.00,  he  had 
to  begin  on  a  small  scale,  but  we  are  glad  to  say  that 
success  has  attended  his  effort  from  the  first.  He 
has  now,  at  2630  State  street,  a  large  and  well  fitted 
up  meat  market,  where  he  sells  all  kinds  of  meats 
and  poultry,  also  game  in  season.  His  business  has 
grown  from  the  $28.00  start  to  an  income  of  some 
fifteen  thousand  dollars  per  year.  Mr.  Chenault 
says  that  his  patrons  are  by  no  means  all  colored, 
but  made  up  of  all  nationalities  living  in  that  section 
of  the  city.  Now,  the  lesson  that  we  hope  to  teach 
in  presenting  this  data  and  cut  of  Mr.  Chenault,  is 
the  help  it  may  be  to  young  men  who  may  read  it, 
for  we  believe  that  as  he  started  and  succeeded  so 
could  hundreds  of  others  if  the  efforts  adopted  by 
him  be  applied  by  them.  They  need  not  all  become 
butchers,  but  take  up  some  one  of  the  many  lines  of 
business  open  to  men  of  brains  and  energy. 

DR.  THOMAS    W.  PATRICK. 

Dr.  Thomas  W.  Patrick  ir,  a  native  of  Hayti,  but 
was  brought  up  in  Trinidad.  West  Indies,  where  he 
secured  his  certificate  of  registration  in  pharmacy. 
He  came  to  Boston,  and  for  some  time  was  with  the 
E.  L.  Patch  Co.,  the  manufacturing  chemists  of  Stone- 

£> 

ham,  and  afterwards  studied  at  the  College  of  Physi 
cians  and  Surgeons  in  that  city.  For  some  time  he 


586  Evidences  of  Progress 

conducted  a  drug  store  in  Blossom  street,  Boston, 
but  for  ten  years  or  more  has  given  his  attention  to 
teaching  pharmacy,  having  established  his  school  in 
1892,  and  as  far  as  I  can  learn  he  is  the  only  colored 
man  who  has  ever  established  a  school  of  pharmacy. 
Since  1892,  when  he  started  the  work,  he  has  had  over 
four  hundred  students,  and  only  two  of  them  have 
been  colored.  I  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  present  a 
cut  of  Dr.  Patrick  with  this  sketch. 


OSCAR    M.  TIBBS. 

Mr.  Oscar  M.  Tibbs  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1861. 
He  spent  some  years  of  his  life  as  a  sleeping-car  por 
ter,  but  being  of  a  mechanical  turn  of  mind,  also  a 
musician  of  some  ability,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  making  of  musical  instruments.  His  first  effort 
along  that  line  was  a  guitar.  When  done  he  showed  it 
to  Mr.  C.  C.  Williams,  manager  for  John  C.  Haynes 
&  Co..  of  Boston,  who  are  amon^  the  largest 

r^  o 

manufacturers  of  musical  instruments  in  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Williams  was  so  well  pleased  with  the 
guitar  that  he  offered  Mr.  Tibbs  a  place  in  the 
factory.  He  now  makes  mandolins,  banjoes  and 
violins.  His  work  has  been  very  satisfactory 
in  every  way.  He  made  and  presented  a  violin 
to  Rev.  Stevens'  daughter  that  he  was  offered  one 
hundred  dollars  for,  because  of  its  most  excellent 
tone.  Mr.  Tibbs  is  the  only  colored  man  I  have  ever 
heard  of  engaged  in  his  line  of  work. 


Among  Colored  People.  587 

THOMAS    HENRY   CRUMP. 

Mr.  T.  H.  Crump  is  engaged  in  an  enterprise  that 
is  a  new  departure  for  a  colored  man.  He  has 
started  a  lecture  bureau,  known  as  "  The  Metropoli 
tan  Lyceum  Bureau,"  and  we  are  glad  to  say  that  he 
has  made  a  success  of  his  effort.  He  employs  and 
secures  engagements  for  both  white  and  colored 
talent.  He  has  on  his  list  of  attractions  some  of  the 
best  singers,  readers  and  lecturers.  Mr.  Crump  has 
his  headquarters  in  Chicago,  at  3844  Dearborn  street. 
He  is  quite  a  singer,  and  is  blessed  with  a  wife  who 
is  also  gifted  in  that  direction. 

ALEXANDER    STEPHENS. 

There  is  possibly  no  man  in  Chicago  better  or 
more  favorably  known  in  a  business  capacity  than  Mr. 
Alexander  Stephens.  In  1893  Mr.  Stephens  was  a 
resident  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  commanded 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  business  men,  both 
white  and  colored,  for  his  strict  honesty  and  integrity. 

In  Memphis  Mr.  Stephens  stood  high  as  a  business 
man,  and  during  the  year  1893,  when  great  numbers 
flocked  to  the  World's  Fair  city,  Mr.  Stephens,  in 
order  to  enlarge  his  business  enterprises,  followed  in 
the  wake  of  the  great  throng  to  Chicago,  and  to-day, 
through  perseverance  and  business  ability,  he  stands 
high  up  among  progressive  business  men  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Stephens  is  a  born  restaurant  man,  and  Mrs. 
Stephens,  his  estimable  wife,  knows  as  much  about 
a  kitchen  as  any  chef,  and  is  as  thoroughly  conver 
sant  with  the  details  of  the  business  as  is  her  hus- 


588  Evidences  of  Progress 

band,  and  the  Stephens'  restaurants  are  known  far 
and  wide  for  their  most  excellent  service.  Mr.  Alex 
ander  Stephens  began  in  a  modest  way  with  one 
small  restaurant,  and  to-day  he  is  the  owner  of  three 


ALEXANDER    STEPHENS. 

of  the  best  in  the  city.  Recently  he  purchased  the 
"  Waldorf,"  3027  State  street,  which  is  a  credit  to  the 
colored  citizens  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Stephens  is  a  race 
man.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Negro  Business  Men's 
League  of  Chicago,  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fra 
ternity,  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  last,  but  not 
least,  the  True  Reformers,  and  is  in  thorough  sym 
pathy  with  all  the  progress  of  his  race. 


Among  Colored  People. 


DR.    HENRY    FITZBUTLER. 


589 


Dr.  Henry  Fitzbutler  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada, 
in  1837.  After  finishing  the  district  school  he  de 
termined  to  prepare  himself  for  college.  He  worked 


DR.    HENRY    FITZBUTLER. 

as  a  farm  hand,  taught  school,  and,  by  strict  economy, 
paid  his  way  at  the  Detroit  Medical  College,  and 
then  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor.  To 
accomplish  this  he  endured  many  hardships.  He 
took  contracts  to  cut  roads  through  forests  from  one 


590  Evidences  of  Progress 

Canadian  villiage  to  another,  near  Amherstburg, 
Ontario,  working  as  a  lumberman  or  surveyor,  as 
necessity  demanded. 

He  was  married  to  Sarah  Helen  McCurdy,  in  1866, 
and  was  aided  materially  in  subsequent  work  by  the 
courage  of  his  wife.  After  graduating  from  Ann 
Arbor  he  went  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1872,  being  the 
first  regular  physician  of  the  colored  race  to  practice 
in  the  State  of  Kentucky. 

The  prejudice  was  such  that  a  Negro  was  not  per 
mitted  to  practice  in  any  of  the  hospitals,  or  attend 
lectures  in  the  medical  schools.  Owing  to  this 
prejudice,  and  to  meet  the  demand  for  higher  educa 
tion,  he,  with  Drs.  Conrad  and  Burney,  obtained  a 
charter  for  the  establishment  of  a  medical  college  for 
the  instruction  of  people  of  all  nationalities. 

Dr.  Fitzbutler  was  dean  of  this  school  from  1888 
until  his  death,  December  28,  1901,  serving  as  an  in 
structor  in  matcria  me  die  a  and  surgery,  and  devoting 
energy,  time  and  money  to  the  equipment  of  this 
school,  known  as  the  Louisville  National  Medical 
College,  and  from  which  more  than  one  hundred 
men  and  women  now  practicing  throughout  the 
United  States  have  graduated. 

To  meet  the  requirements  of  the  times,  that 
patients  might  receive  better  treatment  and  students 
have  opportunity  for  observations,  he  started  a  hos 
pital,  in  1895,  which  he  maintained  largely  from  his 
private  purse.  Of  him  it  may  truly  be  said :  "  He 
did  the  best  he  could  for  everybody." 

Dr.  Mary  Fitzbutler  Waring,  a   daughter  of  the 


Among  Colored  People.  591 

late  Dr.  Henry  Fitzbutler,  is  a  graduate  from  her 
father's  school,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  active 
practice  of  her  profession  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  111., 
and  meeting  with  success. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

CONCLUSION. 

I  HAVE  now  come  to  the  most  difficult  part  of 
this  work.  The  conclusion  to  a  book  is  rarely  per 
fectly  satisfactory  to  all  readers,  and  I  think  rarely 
satisfactory  to  the  author.  I  can  only  offer  this 
apology:  I  did  not  at  the  beginning  attempt  a 
"  literary  "  work.  I  have  only  aimed  to  set  forth  a 
few- facts,  which  are  incontrovertible  evidences  of  the 
progress  made  by  colored  people,  and  these  facts 
I  have  stated  in  the  simplest  form  of  English  so 
that  every  person  who  reads  the  book  may  under 
stand.  I  have  indicated,  I  think,  that  the  colored 
people  have  the  same  ambitions  and  aspirations 
which  characterize  all  progressive  races  ;  and  that 
when  they  are  given  equal  opportunity  and  a  fair 
chance  in  the  various  industrial  and  professional 
walks  of  life,  they  measure  up  to  the  white  man  in 
point  of  excellence,  proficiency  and  ultimate  success. 

I  have  not  exhausted  my  subject,  for  there  are 
hundreds  of  men  and  women  of  the  race  not  men 
tioned  in  this  book,  who  are  just  as  successful,  just 
as  remarkable  in  their  careers  as  those  mentioned. 
It  would  require  a  book  many  times  the  size  of  this 
one  to  give  anything  like  a  passing  mention  of  these 
progressive,  intelligent  people.  I  have,  as  I  stated 
in  my  preface,  only  pointed  out  a  few  of  the  evi- 
(592) 


Evidences  of  Progress  593 

dences  of  progress.     I  have  only  given  a  few  brief 
sketches. 

These  glowing  facts,  thus  presented  to  the  world, 
are  the  results  of  my  personal  contact,  association  and 
experience  of  sixteen  years  among  colored  people, 
both  North  and  South,  and  it  is  my  earnest  hope 
that  I  have  succeeded  in  presenting  to  my  readers 
food  for  thought  on  the  Negro  question  in  the 
United  States. 

I  have  devoted  a  great  deal  of  space  to  Wilber- 
force  University,  Livingstone  College,  Tuskegee 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute,  Normal  and  other 
independent  and  State  schools  managed  by  colored 
people,  because  these  institutions  typify  the  ability 
of  the  colored  man  to  govern  and  control  enter 
prises  for  himself. 

I  have  not  mentioned  the  political  leaders  of  the 
race,  such  as  Messrs.  Douglass,  Bruce,  Lynch  and 
others,  simply  because  I  am  not  giving  a  history  of 
the  race,  and  it  has  been  more  my  purpose  to  deal 
with  the  educators  and  business  men. 
38 


INDEX  TO  PORTRAITS  OF  PEOPLE. 


Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett,  iv 
Prof.  E.  L.  Scruggs,  B.  D.,  43 
Prof.  Joshua  Levister,  46 
Prof.  Gregory  W.  Hayes,  A.M. ,50 
Rev.  Geo.  P.  McKinney,  54 
Rev.  C.  L.  Puree,  A.  B.,  D.  D.,  58 
Prof.  N.  W.  Curtwright,  A.  B.,  61 
Prof.  O.  L.  Coleman,  A.  M.,  63 
Prof.  J.  A.  Booker,  A..M.,  65 
Rev.  Calvin  S.  Brown,  A.  B.,  67 
Prof.  S.  H.  C.  Owen,  A.  M.,  69 
Rev.  James  S.  Russell,  89 
Three  Orphan  Sisters,  94 
Rev.  M.  W.  Dogan,  A.  M.,  ill 
Bishop  D.  A.  Paine,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

119 

Rev.  B.  F.  Lee,  D.  D.,  122 
Rev.  S.  T.  Mitchell,  A.M.,  LL.D., 

124 
Prof.  A.  St.  George  Richardson, 

B.  A.,  130 

Prof.  J.  R.  Hawkins,  A.  M.,  132 
Rev.  Daniel  H.  Butler,     141 
Rev.  J.  C.  Price,  A.  M.,  D.  D., 

144 

Rev.  W.  H.  Goler,  D.  D.,  148 
Rev.  W.  H.  Franklin,  A.  M.,  161 
Lucy  C.  Laney,  165 
Rev.  C.  S.  Mebane,  A.  M.,  169 
Rev.  W.  R.  Coles,  172 
Rev.  Henry  D.  Wood,  174 
Rev.  J.  A.  Savage,  D.  D.,  177 
Rev.  D.  J.  Sanders,  D.  D.,  180 
Rev.  T.  H.  Amos,  A.  M.,  182 
Rev.  J.  B.  Swann,  185 
Prof.  G.  C.  Shaw,  1 86 
Prof.  B.  T.  Washington,  A.M.,  191 
Prof.  W.  H.  Council,  216 
C.  H.  Parrish,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  223 

(594) 


Miss  Mary  V.  Cook,  A.  B.,  A.  M., 

225 

Prof.  Hattie  A.  Gibbs,  228 
Prof.  W.  B.  Weaver,  230 
Mrs.  Anna  B.  Weaver,  235 
Mrs.  Dinah  P.  Pace,  240 
Prof.  Jas.  B.  Dudley,  A.  M.,  242 
Prof.  Richard  R.  Wright,  A.  M., 

LL.D.,  244 

Prof.  S.  G.  Atkins,  A.  M.,  245 
Mrs.  Fanny  L.  Jackson  Coppin, 

258 

Prof.  E.  W.  B.  Curry,  262. 
Dr.  R.  F.  Boyd,  266 
Prof.  Richard  Hill,  279 
Frederic  S.  Monroe,  281 
C.  J.  Becker,  283 
Hon.  D.  Augustus  Straker,  285 
T.  McCants  Stewart,  Esq.,  292 
J.  H.  Lewis,  297 
W.  Q.  Atwood,  299 
Samuel  Harris,  300 
William  H.  Davis,  302 
J.  E.  Reed,  305 
John  S.  Trower,  307 
E.  I.  Masterson,  309 
Charles  A.  Webb,  311 
Walter  P.  Hall,  317 
S.  L.  Parker,  319 
H.  A.  Tandy,  322 
Daniel  Purdy,  324 
Dr.  W.  T.  Dinwiddie,  326 
J.  E.  Dixon,  327 
Philip  J.  Allston,  330 
Dr.  Jared  Carey,  332 
Rev.  W.  W.  Browne,  338 
J.  H.  Dickinson,  345 
T.  Thomas  Fortune,  350 
E.  E.  Cooper,  352 


Index  to  Portraits  of  People. 


595 


Prof.  W.  S.  Scarborough,  LL.D., 

Rev.  H.  T.  Johnson,  D.D.,  Ph.D., 

356 

\Vm.  H.  Stewart,  358 
Rev.  L.  J.  Coppin,  D.  D.,  359 
W.  H.  Anderson,  361 
J.  E.  Bruce,  362 
Hon.  J.  C.  Dancy,  366 
Miss  Pauline  E.  Hopkins,  367 
W.  H.  Stowers,  369 
James  Holmes  Moody,  371 
Prof.  H.  T.  Kealing,  B.  S.,  A.  M., 

373 

Richard  Allen,  378 
Rev.  C.  T.  Shaffer,  M.  D.,  D.  D., 

381 

N.  F.  Mossell,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  396 
J.  C.  White,  398 
Daniel  H.  Williams,  M.  D.,  400 
Rev.  Stephen  Smith,  407 
Edward  T.  Parker,  409 
Dr.  Hallie  Tanner  Johnson,  411 
Mrs.  Victoria  E.  Matthews,  414 
Mrs.  Frances  E.  W.  Harper,  416 
Mrs.     N.     F.    Mossell    and    her 

daughters,  418 

T.  M.  Doram,  M.  D.  V.,  538 
J.  W.  Adams,  540 
H.  A.  Loveless,  542 
R.  B.  Hudson,  543 
E.  C.  Berry,  553 
Miss  Alice  Ruth  Moore,  419 
Madam  Flora  Batson  Bergen,  421 
Dr.  John  R.  Francis,  429 
James  Hugo  Johnston,  462 


Benjamin  F.  Allen,  469 
Warren  C.  Coleman,  482 
Rev.  W.  F.  Graham,  486 
Mr.  John  T.  Taylor,  487 
John  Mitchell,  Jr.,  494 
Mr.  J.  C.  Farley,  495 
Miss  E.  B.  Slaughter,  507 
Mr.  R.  F.  White,  509 
Jordan  C.  Jackson,  513 
Rev.  A.  H.  Miller,  515 
Mr.  S.  Boyce,  517 
Isaac  Johnson,  519 
E.  E.  Howard,  520 
Mr.  E.  E.  Fluker,  522 
Mr.  R.  J.  Palmer,  523 
Mr.  Louis  Kastor,  524 
Sandy  W.  Trice,  526 

E.  H.  Faulkner,  527 
Eugene  Burkins,  528 
Mr.  Geo.  E.  Jones,  530 
Mr.  G.  W.  Higgins,  531 
Lieutenant  Charles  Young,  539 
Dumar  Watkins,  556 

L.  H.  Latimer,  558 

J.  S.  Atwood,  560 

G.  W.  Franklin,  Jr.,  562 

Rev.  R.  H.  Boyd,  D.  D.,  566 

P.  Sheridan  Ball,  574 

John  H.  Atkins,  575 

L.  C.  Collins,  576 

Mrs.  Fannie  B.  Williams,  578 

Miss  Cora  J.  Hawkins,  580 

Miss  Mattie  J.  Johnson,  583 

F.  D.  Chenault,  584 
Alexander  Stephens,  588 
Dr.  Henry  Fitzbutler,  589 


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ORM  NO.  DD6,  60m,  1/83          BERKELEY,  CA  94720 

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